Various positions filled in top industry jobs around the world.

Ekstedt New CFO of Alimak Group

Per Ekstedt is set to become chief financial officer (CFO) of Alimak Group AB on January 1, 2017. He is currently CFO at Swedish technology company Mycronic, and has held CFO positions at Selecta, Group4 Securicor and Siemens Business Services. Outgoing Alimak CFO, Stefan Rinaldo, will continue with the company as chief operating officer. Alimak Group CEO Tormod Gunleiksrud stated Ekstedt’s broad experiences with global companies promises to benefit Alimak Group.

Berkling Succeeds Sharma in KONE’s Asia-Pacific Region

Effective October 1, Axel Berkling succeeds Neeraj Sharma as executive vice president (EVP) for KONE’s Asia-Pacific Region, which consists of all KONE’s business in this area excluding China. Sharma, who has been with KONE since 2009, first as managing director for KONE India and then as EVP for the Asia-Pacific Region, is returning to India to pursue other interests outside the company. Berkling, who also becomes a member of the Executive Board, started his career with KONE in the finance department in Germany in 1998. Between 2007-2012, he held various roles, including managing KONE’s service business in Germany. In 2012, Berkling was promoted to managing director of KONE Germany. He holds an MSc in Economics from the Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz in Olten, Switzerland.

EHC Global Names Sales and Supply Chain Manager, Germany

EHC Global has named Richard Cardinaal Sales and Supply Chain Manager, Germany. Reporting directly to Managing Director of EHC Central Region Norman Rosnersky, Cardinaal is responsible for leading a team of eight in the integration, optimization and continuous improvement of customer-centric strategies and processes, including sales, order processing, fulfillment and support. Cardinaal has been with EHC Global since 1995, holding several management positions in information technology, project management and business development. He holds an Information Technology and Business Administration degree, as well as a degree in Industrial Engineering and Management from the Zuyd University of Applied Sciences School of Technology in Heerlen, Netherlands.

Manning Leads New Vertical-Transportation Projects for Dewar

Chris Manning has been named director of new development, vertical transportation, at Dewar Partnerships Ltd., a London-based subsidiary of Lerch Bates, Inc. He was previously a senior vertical-transportation consultant for Lerch Bates. Manning has nearly 30 years of experience designing vertical-transportation systems for commercial, hotel, residential, retail and transportation projects. In his new role, he manages new-design projects with a focus on developing and growing business in the U.K. and throughout Europe. Manning has worked on numerous significant projects, including The Shard and Salesforce Tower in London; Torre Cepsa in Madrid; Port Baku Towers in Baku, Azerbaijan; and CCTV Headquarters in Beijing. He holds a Higher National Diploma in Mechanical and Production Engineering from Middlesex University. Dewar Managing Director Steve Fall stated:

“[Manning] has a proven and respected record of taking projects from the initial concept stages to final witness testing and completion. [He] will play a vital role in our firm’s continued expansion initiatives as we strategically grow throughout the region.”

Schmersal Promotes Hunscher to MD

Dr. Andreas Hunscher was promoted to managing director (MD) of Schmersal Böhnke + Partner GmbH in June. In his new role, he will continue to lead Schmersal’s Wettenberg, Germany, factory and be responsible for its “safe signal analysis” and “control elements” business units. Hunscher completed his doctorate in Electrical Engineering at the Ruhr University in Bochum, Germany, then spent approximately 15 years working in various management positions at a leading international automotive supplier. Before joining Schmersal in 2014, he was managing director of Langmatz GmbH, an infrastructure company.

Hunscher explained:

“The market for elevators and escalators is growing year on year in Europe, and this long-term trend is set to continue into the future. There are challenges involved in the shifting of demand to markets outside Europe, the amalgamation of traditional machine and plant engineering with information technologies. . . and the increasing demand for customized services, intensive consultancy, perfect-fit quotations and complete system solutions. In this environment, it is my aim to expand on Schmersal’s leading international position as a manufacturer of lift systems. With our new administration and production building in Ober-Eschbach, [Germany], we are well equipped for further growth.”