07.04.2009

New head for Sunbelt

Ashtead has appointed Joseph (Joe) James Phelan, as president and chief executive of Sunbelt Rentals, its US subsidiary, replacing Cliff Miller, who departs after 13 years with the group.

Phelan, a US citizen, will also join the Board of Ashtead as an executive director. Both appointments will become effective in mid-April and follow the successful culmination of a full recruitment process.

Phelan joins Ashtead from Deutsche Post DHL where, most recently, he was chief executive of DHL Global Mail based in Weston, Florida. He was also a member of the Deutsche Post executive committee. Prior to joining DHL in 2004, he held a number of senior executive positions with American Airlines.

Geoff Drabble, chief executive of Ashtead said: 'We are delighted to welcome Joe, who has a wealth of experience in logistics and change management and in running large, multi-location businesses. We anticipate that he will be instrumental in helping us take Sunbelt onto the next stage in its development.”

“We also thank Cliff Miller for his efforts in helping us develop Sunbelt from the small regional rental business it was when he joined it in 1996 to the large nationwide rental company it is today.”'