24.04.2026

New Manitou CEO named

Manitou has named Sylvain Blaise, 53, as its next chief executive, taking over from Michel Denis when he stands down when his current term of office expires on June 11th after 12 years at the helm.

Blaise will officially join the company at the start of July, from Iveco’s powertrain division FPT Industrial, where he has been chief executive for the past four and a half years.

He began his career in 1999 as a manager with the French division of Swedish heat exchanger group Alfa-Laval. In mid-2002 he moved to the UK as product marketing manager for CNH – Case New Holland. In late 2004 he was promoted to marketing and brand development director for Europe, still based in the UK just over a year later he transferred to Austria as a senior director of tractor and specialist vehicle manufacturer Steyr Europe. Six years later he was transferred to the USA as vice president of CaseIH’s tractor product line in Racine, Wisconsin.

After three years in the American Mid-West, he finally made it back to France, when he was promoted to chief executive of bus manufacturer Iveco France, which produces Heuliez branded buses. He moved to his current role with the CNH group at the end of 2021.

Speaking of his new challenge he said: “I would like to thank the board of directors for their trust, and it is with great pride and a deep sense of responsibility that I join Manitou. Its global stature, family roots, long term and responsible vision, as well as its leading market position, are all remarkable strengths. Aware of the value of this heritage, I will be fully committed to making it thrive. My immediate priority will be to build bonds of trust with our 6,100 employees, our dealers, our customers, and our partners to strengthen our international leadership and pursue our mission to set the world in motion.”

The company has also announced the appointment of Christopher Himsworth as chairman following the passing of Jacqueline Himsworth earlier this month.