KONE, AL, Apex hire team members.

Kaje Named Vice President of KONE IR, Other Changes

Sanna Kaje has been named vice president of Investor Relations (IR) at KONE. She joins KONE from Finnish construction company YIT with an extensive background in IR and finance. Katri Saarenheimo, who has been director of IR since 2014, is moving to a new role in the Global Maintenance division. Karla Lindahl will now focus on KONE’s strategic direction and development after serving as vice president for Strategy Development and IR. Kaje and Lindahl report directly to KONE Chief Financial Officer Ilkka Hara.

Vick, Williamson join AL

Mark Vick and Steve Williamson have joined the team at London-based Amalgamated Lifts (AL) as service manager and contractor surveyor, respectively. AL praised Vick’s relationship development with lift-industry clients, and noted he brings “invaluable experience and knowledge” to the service department. Williamson’s “experience and impressive background” promise to enhance the capabilities of AL’s construction division. Vick and Williamson also bring with them a high level of health, safety and quality knowledge that fits well with the company’s new accreditations, AL noted.

Apex Lifts Welcomes Employees to Company, Industry

Apex Lifts, headquartered in London, recently welcomed three new employees to the company and lift industry. They are Emma Barnard, bid coordinator; Ami Freeman, service coordinator; and Amber Reynolds, repair sales consultant. In addition to writing bids, Barnard is assisting with marketing and promotional activities. She holds a degree in History and previously worked as a marketing assistant. Freeman supports engineers located in and around London and coordinates calls to help ensure service, maintenance and emergencies are documented. She previously served as an events and sales manager based in Canary Wharf. Reynolds’ main duty is analyzing insurance reports and advising clients on their next steps. She holds a degree in English Language and Linguistics from the University of Kent.

Lifts with Braille, ARDs Gain Popularity in India

Although more common in the West, lifts equipped with Braille-enabled call buttons and automatic rescue devices (ARDs) are becoming more popular in new residential projects in India as awareness grows about the country’s aging and disabled population, the Hindustan Times reported. It was observed that, by 2026, India will be home to approximately 170 million senior citizens and that currently, approximately 30 million of them live alone. Further, approximately 2% of India’s population has a disability. Newer developments, such as Vivarea in Mumbai, boast features such as elevators with audio systems and Braille, and the trend is expected to continue.