Bill Crown, CEO and president of Great Dane, will step away from his duties as president, handing the job to Dean Engelage, currently executive vice president of sales and strategic planning. Crown will remain CEO.
Engelage’s appointment is part of a managed executive transition which has been coordinated by Crown and the Great Dane executive management team over the past year, the company said. Crown, who assumed the president position when Phillip Pines retired in 2010, will continue to be actively involved in the company.
“Leading the Great Dane organization has been a rewarding experience,” said Crown. “The Great Dane team has built a great business and we are well positioned to go forward from a position of strength. I look forward to working closely with Dean and am confident he will continue to lead the organization to new heights. Our shared vision and values provide a solid foundation from which we will continue to execute our growth strategy and drive toward long-term value for our customers.”
“I am delighted to take up my new role as president of Great Dane,” Engelage said. “I look forward to working with our dedicated employees to further the Company’s market leadership and growth by bringing new levels of innovation, customer experience and value to the marketplace.”
Engelage joined Great Dane in 2011 as executive vice president of sales and strategic planning, responsible for Great Dane’s sales and aftermarket initiatives, including business development, marketing and information technology. He also oversees the management of Johnson Truck Bodies, a Great Dane company.
Prior to Great Dane, Engelage worked for American Airlines and General Dynamics in marketing, purchasing and finance, and most recently spent more than 16 years with Great Dane’s parent company, CC Industries, in various management positions.
