We received the sad news yesterday that crane publication veteran and more recently tower crane sales & marketing professional Mike Posener has died.
He passed away last Wednesday at the age of 67, after struggling with his health for many years. He was admitted to hospital just before Bauma, which he seemed to regret missing, more that his illness. He leaves behind his wife Silvia and son Liam.
Mike’s parents emigrated to the UK just before the world War II. He was born in London, but grew up in southern England, while developing a love for Germany. He trained and qualified as a carpenter and joiner and went on to set up his own contracting company in Germany where he had his first experience of working with cranes which he developed something of a passion for.
Having developed a serious and incurable lung ailment he was unable to work in construction, at least on site, and moved into publishing, joining the Cranes Today team as an advertising sales manager, in or around 2001. He took to the new job ‘like a duck to water’ and particularly enjoyed covering the German speaking markets for the publication.
In 2003 Vertikal acquired a new owner, and with its base in Brighton close to where he lived, Mike began lobbying to join the business and with considerable persistence he eventually won his campaign in August 2005 when he joined as customer support manager.
Mike Posener in 2005 when he joined Vertikal
While he helped the business in many ways, the fact that he was not responsible for the German speaking market, which then - as now, was handled by the Vertikal team in Freiburg - was always a bit of an issue for him. So, when he received an offer from KHL - the publisher of International Cranes - in 2006 to cover the German speaking market he naturally jumped at it.
He remained with International Cranes until the end of 2023, while working there he moved to the west of Ireland. He developed a good relationship with Irish American company Stafford Cranes, which had acquired the Portuguese tower crane manufacturer Soima in 2021. He joined the company as marketing and new business development manager in the spring of 2024, with his contract expiring just a few weeks ago.
Mike Posener had an incredible optimism and great passion for life, even while battling with often severe illnesses. If he couldn’t walk when undergoing a particularly severe course of treatments, he would still turn up at show like Bauma and rent a mobility scooter to get around the event and see everyone. In February 2019 he underwent a Bi-lateral lung transplant in Dublin, which typically has a 12 month recovery time frame, combined with regular treatment for the rest of your life. That did not stop him at all, and as mentioned he was devastated having not made it to Bauma this year where he was due to man the Stafford Crane stand.
Mike Posener on joining Stafford Cranes last year
In his last email to me - Leigh Sparrow - just a few weeks ago he said: “I bring you the latest news from Stafford Tower Cranes, where I have accepted a mutual agreement to cancel my work contract with the owners. My final day with the company will be the last day of May.”
“It is a shame, as so much has been achieved in such a short time frame, developing the company into a transcending stage of the tower crane market. Also introducing the new ‘brand’ and livery colours, two complete crane series and all new luffing designs with the very first model on display at Bauma. The lack of crane sales due to the current tower crane market was the catalyst that forced the Staffords to make this decision. I wish the company and all of its staff much success and good health in the future.”
We had agreed to hold off publishing his news until early June but had no idea at all that he was so ill, you would never have guessed from his regular correspondence.
Mike Posener was an unusual man, soft spoken, yet more determined and persistent than almost anyone I have ever met. Our relationship over the years has certainly not been close and he could be a real pain to deal with as he simply would not take No as an answer. Yet he was always good company, calm, measured, often very kind, generous and always good to see. He will be missed by many people across the crane world.
TW
RIP Mike, was always a pleasure to meet you. Sad we won't be catching up soon.