12.11.2018

New CEO for H&E

US based crane, telehandler and access sales and rental company H&E Equipment has announced the appointment of Bradley Barber as chief executive effective from the start of next year.

He will take over from John Engquist who will move to the role of executive chairman. The current chairman Gary Bagley, who was chief executive of ICM Equipment until it was merged with H&E, will remain on the board of directors.

Barber joined H&E – or Head & Engquist as it was then - at the start of 1998 as director of rental operations with the job to turn a crane and excavator distributor rental operation into a more standalone mainstream rental business.
In 2003 shortly after the merger of ICM Equipment Company and Head & Engquist – He was promoted to vice president of rental operations, with responsibility to integrate the operations of the two companies. In 2005 he became executive vice president for parts, service and rental operations and was promoted to chief operating officer in 2008, adding the title of president in 2012.

He began his equipment rental his career as a branch manager with Associated Rentals in Gonzales, Louisiana at the start of 1995 and left to join Head & Engquist three years later.
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Brad Barber

Speaking of the move, Engquist said: “We are pleased to announce Brad’s expanded role with the Company. He has been instrumental in H&E’s success over the years and we look forward to his leadership and his contributions to the company’s future growth. As executive chairman I will lead H&E in its strategic planning and oversee merger and acquisition opportunities on a full time basis. I will continue to work with chief financial officer Leslie Magee to ensure we have the appropriate capital structure to support our growth plans and to maintain the financial health of the company. Lastly, we are most grateful for Gary’s leadership as chairman of the since the company’s formation in 2005 and look forward to his continued service as a director.”