23.05.2025

Steve Elliott retires

It's finally official, Liebherr Great Britain GB sales veteran Steve Elliott has retired after 24 years with the company and the past 16 years as mobile cranes sales manager for England and Wales. He took the decision some months ago, but agreed to do Bauma and help ensure a smooth transition.

Steve Elliott joined Liebherr in May 2001 as a service administrator and technical support person for the mobile crane department, based at its original site in Hatfield. After three years in the role he transferred to the company’s tower crane division, to take up his first sales job. During that time, he also managed the installation of a concrete batching plant.

In 2006 the then managing director of Liebherr GB - David Milne suggested he return to the mobile crane department in a technical sales support role, supporting the sales team. Finally in 2009, he was promoted to his current position as sales manager, working with his predecessor John MacGregor for a year or so gradually taking on more of his customers as he worked towards retirement at the end of 2010, at that point Elliott took over the entire customer base in England and Wales.

In his 16 years in sales Steve Elliott has sold more than 700 cranes with a value of over £460 million.
Speaking of his early retirement - he is still in his 50s - he said: “Since joining the company in 2001, I have not looked back. Not bad when you consider that on my appointment, I told my wife, ‘I’ll just take the job as a stop gap… not sure I will stay there long’.”

"Liebherr is a fantastic company to work for, I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to build my career upon the same core values held dear to the group. My last 16 years as sales manager have been the best time of my working life, I have met many great people whom I class as friends, rather than customers and colleagues. I will most definitely miss the industry and my customers and colleagues, both in the UK and at Liebherr in Ehingen, Germany. I cannot really say much more other than a very special thanks to them all for all their great support over the years, and thanks to the customers for investing in the Liebherr brand. I wish them all the very best for the future.”

“It will soon be time for me to put my feet up for a while. I have lots to do, including hobbies to keep me busy, and that is without the long list of jobs my wife has given me to do in the house and the garden.”

Future organisation

Going forward the UK territory will be split differently, Lyle Sibbald will extend his Scottish territory to include Northwest England and Northwest Wales.

The remaining area will be managed by Paul Goodall, covering from North Yorkshire to Devon and Cornwall. Both will be responsible for Ehingen’s full product range, including MK tower cranes, lattice crawler cranes above 500 tonnes and telescopic crawler cranes.

The Liebherr Nenzing product range, including crawler cranes under 500 tonnes and ground engineering equipment, will now be the responsibility of Alex Burt. The changes take effect at the start of June.

Liebherr GB managing director Richard Everist speaking on behalf of the company said: “Liebherr wishes Steve the best for his well earned retirement, he has been an integral part of the business, contributing to the company’s growth and the Liebherr brand, he will be missed by his peers. Additional well wishes to Paul, Lyle and Alex, we wish them the best of luck in their new roles. Over the years, Steve has maintained strong customer relations as well as forged new ones. The years 2009 and 2010 posed challenges for Liebherr Great Britain due to the financial crisis, which resulted in a surge of cautious customers. Nevertheless, Steve remained undeterred by the economic landscape. Ultimately, his perseverance bore fruit, as customers began placing orders, including those who were previously not Liebherr fans.”