Finning International this week named Juan Carlos Villegas, currently president of Finning South America, to the newly created position of executive vice president and chief operating officer. Villegas will be based at the company’s corporate office in Vancouver, B.C., Canada.
Reporting to the CEO, Villages will oversee and drive operations across the company’s three operating units: Canada, South America and the U.K. and Ireland. As COO of Finning, Villages will play a key role in increasing efficiencies and profitability as well as maintaining Finning’s safety leadership, across its international business.
“Over the past few years, we have built a solid foundation for our operations through a repositioning to focus on our core strengths,” said Mike Waites, president and CEO of Finning International. “The creation of the COO role will provide us with dedicated management focus and greater internal synergy to drive operational excellence during the next phase of our strategic journey. Juan Carlos has an outstanding track record within Finning as such he is well-suited to oversee the delivery of our operating plans across our business units. Juan Carlos has demonstrated exceptional leadership, a passion for developing the business and a strong commitment to delivering safety excellence.”
Villegas joined Finning in 1998 and served as president of its South American business for the past six years. With more than 30 years of industry experience, he played a key role in Finning’s growth in the region. In 2011, Finning South America posted a year of record results and solid operating leverage. Villegas will continue to lead South America until arrangements for a new president are finalized.
Finning International is the world’s largest Caterpillar equipment dealer. Based in Vancouver, the company operates in Western Canada, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay, the United Kingdom and Ireland. A major player in equipment rental, Finning is No. 9 on the RER 100.
