Crane rental company Maxim Crane Works appointed Paul McDonnell CEO, effective immediately. McDonnell will also join the company’s board of directors.

McDonnell has more than 25 years of experience in the construction equipment rental industry, including more than 20 years at United Rentals, most recently serving as executive vice president and chief commercial officer. He joined United Rentals in 1999 upon the acquisition of D&E Steelplate Rental, where McDonnell was general manager and served in multiple roles of increasing leadership responsibility across sales, operations and management.

“On behalf of the entire board, I am confident that with his more than two decades of specialty rental experience, Paul is the right executive to strengthen Maxim’s market leadership and continue enhancing the equipment and service provided to customers,” Michael Kneeland, chairman of the board of directors for Maxim Crane Works, said. “Having worked together at United Rentals, Paul’s entrepreneurial mindset, customer-first focus and track record of delivering profitable growth make him the ideal person to lead Maxim’s next chapter.”

“I am honored to take on the role of CEO and lead this terrific business and talented Maxim team,” McDonnell said. “Leveraging my experience in building the specialty rental segment at United Rentals, I look forward to working across the company’s broad footprint to deliver superior service to our customers, continue growing our company and deliver meaningful value to all our stakeholders.”

“With Paul’s appointment, Maxim’s valued customers and talented employees are in experienced hands to take the company to the next level,” Bryan Carlisle, who retired as Maxim Crane Works’ CEO in September and continues to serve on its board, said. “Maxim’s future remains bright and it is a credit to the entire organization and what they have built to have an executive of Paul’s caliber join the company. I look forward to supporting Paul and management alongside the rest of the board as they execute on the long-term vision for the business.”

In connection with McDonnell’s appointment, Maxim Crane Works dissolved the interim office of the CEO put in place in September, which was comprised of Sean Collopy, CFO and treasurer; Don Goebel, chief legal officer and chief tax officer; and Larry Lis, vice president of the Midwest region. Collopy, Goebel and Lis will continue to serve in their current roles.