SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Last month Stockholm, Sweden-based Atlas Copco appointed Erik Olsson president of its Rental Service business area and CEO of Rental Service Corp. Olsson was previously vice president operations for the Rental Service business area and chief operating officer of Rental Service Corp.

Olsson, who replaces Tom Zorn, started his career at Atlas Copco in 1988 and has served the Atlas Copco Group in many positions, including senior financial positions in Sweden, Brazil and the United States. He was divisional controller at Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp. before joining Rental Service as business area controller and chief financial officer in 2001. Olsson has been in his current position since March 2005.

“Erik Olsson has contributed significantly to the tremendous development of the rental business during the past years. He is a strong and well-respected leader, with solid experience of doing business in the U.S.,” said Gunnar Brock, president and CEO of the Atlas Copco Group.

The appointment of a new business area president has no bearing on Atlas Copco's decision earlier this year to divest the Rental Service business area, the company said. Brock said in July he expects the sale of RSC to be finalized during the third quarter.

Based in Scottsdale, Ariz., RSC Equipment Rental is No. 2 on the RER 100.