US based rental company Sunstate Equipment has appointed Norty Turner as chief executive. He takes up the new role on February 10th.
Norty Turner joins the company after a year or so running Woodland Management while also serving as managing partner of real estate development company August Green. He had previously been chief executive of Resa Power.
Norty Turner
Turner began his career in 1995 as a sales coordinator with Hertz Equipment Rental, and moved up through a number of senior positions, including general manager of the European, Middle East and African region, as well as president of Hertz Equipment France.
In 2012 he was appointed as chief executive of Riwal the Dutch international aerial lift and telehandler rental company, returning to the USA in 2018 after six and a half years with Riwal, to join United Rentals as senior vice president of services and advanced solutions, leaving in 2022 for Resa Power.
He takes over from Chris Watts, who is retiring at the end of March after almost 30 years with the company, the past 10 years as chief executive, having previously been chief operating officer.
Chris Watts
Watts joined Sunstate in 1991 and worked his way up through the various areas of the business. He is also the son of Sunstate founder Mike Watts who retired in 2017, having started the business in 1977 when he acquired Beldon Rentals, rebranding it Sunstate. The company is now wholly owned by Sumitomo, which acquired a minority stake in 2009, a majority holding in 2013, with full ownership coming in 2017.
Senior board member Marcel Langlois said: “Chris is an inspiring, values driven leader with an extraordinary passion for our people and commitment to our company. On behalf of the board, I would like to thank him for his invaluable contributions and the strong foundation for growth he helped to create during his time as chief executive. We are now well positioned to raise the bar on our aspirations for Sunstate’s next chapter, and I’m delighted that Norty will lead that next phase in the company’s growth given his deep understanding of our industry and visionary leadership.”
Turner added: "I am honoured to join Sunstate Equipment, grateful to the directors, and excited for the opportunity to contribute to its continued success. Sunstate’s dedication to exceptional customer service, innovative solutions, and a people first culture truly sets it apart in the industry.”
“My focus will be on building upon the strong foundation that Chris and the leadership team have established. Working alongside our talented teams to drive growth, innovation, and customer focused business excellence, together we will not only uphold Sunstate’s legacy, but also shape a future defined by bold ideas, lasting partnerships, and a shared commitment to exceptional achievements."
Chris Watts said: "Leading this dedicated and principled team has been the honour of a lifetime. The success we’ve achieved is a testament to the hard work, ambition, and unwavering commitment of the 2,500 individuals who make up the Sunstate family. I am confident that under Norty Turner’s leadership, Sunstate will continue to thrive."
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