2023 European Rental Awards

The panel of judges is as follows:

– Kari Aulasmaa, CEO, Renta Group
– Pierre Boels, ERA President
– Soeren Brogaard, CEO, Trackunit
– Murray Pollok, Managing Editor, International Rental News
– Armin Rappen, CEO, mateco Holding
– Non-voting Chair: Michel Petitjean, Secretary General, ERA

• Bergerat Rent (Belgium)
• Dromad Hire (Ireland)
• Kallioinen (Finland)
• Key-Tec (Belgium) – WINNER

• Boels Group (Netherlands)
• Kiloutou (France)
• Nixon Hire (UK)
• Renta Group (Finland) – WINNER

• Hilti – Nuron range – WINNER
• Hinowa – Lightlift 40.18 Performance IIIS
• Niftylift – HeightRider 17 All-Electric (HR17E)
• Trime – X-Solar lighting tower
• Wacker Neuson – Battery One

• Boels Group (Netherlands) – WINNER
• Klickrent (Germany)
• Zeppelin Rental (Germany) – WINNER

• Doosan Bobcat EMEA
• Kohler
• Skyjack – WINNER

Guy Cremer, Chief Procurement Officer, Boels Rental

What the judges said:

“Our Person of the Year has spent more than 33 years at a single rental company, helping it become one of the largest in Europe, and doing so with a combination of hard work, professionalism and vision.

The year 2022 was a special one for him. He was appointed to the board as Chief Procurement Officer, a change reflecting the high regard in which he is held.

In procurement, which of course is a key aspect of the equipment rental business, he has helped set the standard throughout the industry. He has been a member of the ERA’s Technical Committee since its creation.

Last year he also continued to play an influential role in the switch towards lower carbon emission equipment, with significant investments into new, cleaner machines. He is helping to define the rental industry response to the challenges of decarbonisation.

Despite his senior position at one of Europe’s major rental players, he has remained a humble and approachable person. That, allied to his knowledge and experience, explains why he is respected not only within Boels Rental but throughout the industry.”

Max Rossi, Managing Director, CGT Edilizia

What the judges said:

“Our lifetime achievement winner has spent 36 years immersed in the world of rental and in the process has created friendships all over the world.

He built one of the market leading rental companies in Switzerland in the late 80s and grew that into a business with 10 locations.

He then spent more than 14 years as CEO of the largest rental company in Switzerland, establishing it as one of Europe’s top 50 rental companies. 

After leaving that company in 2011 he formed his own business consultancy, helping rental companies in Europe, the Middle East and Africa on their business strategies.

Far from slowing down, in recent years he has taken on the role of Managing Director for a major rental company in Italy.

This picture of his business life gives us only part of the story. Our award recipient has a talent for languages, for travel, for friendship – a true citizen of the world, with a positive and dynamic approach to life.

You will find him in Lucca, Tuscany at the weekend, in Milan during the working week, or perhaps Lausanne. When he’s not managing rental businesses, he is producing wine from the vines at his home.

Our winner has been a successful, knowledgeable and unassuming presence in our industry for many years. The companies that have been central to his working life have been Multirent, Avesco Rent, and, more recently, CGT Edilizia.”

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