Oliver Auston

Lifting Equipment Engineers Association - United Kingdom

Oliver Auston will take over from Kat Moss as the chair of the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA).

Auston, chief executive officer of Safehold, previously served as chair of the LEAA from 2016 to 2017.

During her two-year tenure, Moss oversaw the initiation of the Lifting Technician Apprenticeship.

“We are extremely grateful for all the hard work that Kat Moss has contributed to LEEA,“ says Ross Moloney, LEEA’s chief executive officer.

“We would also like to thank Catena Inspection and Engineering Services, where Kat is IMS Manager, for their support of her work with our association.”

In other changes to the executive team, Dave Cormack, Managing Director at Delphini Ltd, will become vice chair, Derek Buck will become Technical Committee chair and Chris Towne will be Learning and Development Committee chair.

Sami Niiranen

Kalmar - Finland

As the proposed demerger of Kalmar progresses, Sami Niiranen has been named the standalone company’s president and chief executive officer.

Cargotec announced the planned demerger in April, with the potential separate listing of Kalmar on Nasdaq Helsinki to take place in 2024.

Niiranen, who has holds a Masters of Science (Mining), has more than 20 years of experience in international business leadership, most recently leading the underground division of Epiroc, a mining and construction equipment manufacturer.

Prior to that, he held several leadership positions in Atlas Copco, an industrial tool maker.

Niiranen says: “I’m excited to be leading Kalmar through the planned standalone listing.

“Kalmar is a technology forerunner in its field and performs well with a talented team and a strong portfolio of businesses.

“I believe that the business is in an excellent position to create further value for all of its stakeholders and I look forward to contributing with my experience to drive profitability, operational excellence, innovation and growth within the industry.”

Cargotec’s current president and chief executive officer Casimir Lindholm will hold his interim position as Kalmar president until Niiranen takes over.