Burbank, Calif.-based 24/7 Studio Equipment has hired studio rental veteran John O’Malley as vice president of sales, 24/7 president Lance Sorenson told RER.

O’Malley played a major role in developing the studio rental business for NES Equipment Rental where he worked with Sorenson and NES founder Kevin Rodgers, who also founded 24/7 with Sorenson. O’Malley was one of the original employees of Rebel Studio Rentals, acquired by NES in 1998.

“I am excited to be with such a great company and I am particularly happy to be with a company that has gone green,” O’Malley told RER. “24/7 has catalytic converters, and it has gone to bio-diesel. The studios are more cognizant about environmental concerns than ever and 24/7 is one of the first companies to go in that direction.”

“With the hiring of O’Malley, we have brought back together much of the original team from NES Studio Rentals,” said Kevin Rodgers, CEO of 24/7 and its parent company, Rental Holdings. “O’Malley has been covering the feature film and television industry for more than 13 years. Along with Lance, John will be directing the sales effort of 24/7 Studio Equipment, both in the Los Angeles area as well as feature film markets in other states, such as New Mexico and Louisiana. In addition to entering new markets, John also will be involved in identifying additional products and services for 24/7 Studio Equipment.”

O’Malley said his hiring has already been well received by 24/7 customers. He joins the company just as striking motion picture and television writers appear close to resolution.

“If the strike is resolved, this town will be extremely busy in the coming months,” O’Malley said. “With a strike by actors a possibility this summer, production companies will try to get as many episodes shot as possible.”

24/7 is one of the companies that form Rental Holdings, backed by private equity group Prospect Partners. The company operates out of a 50,000-square-foot facility on a five-acre site, and has more than 500 machines in its rental fleet, primarily boomlifts, scissorlifts and forklifts.

Rental Holdings is No. 64 on the RER 100.