Stephenson’s Rental Services, one of Canada’s largest general construction rental companies, last week named Guy Manuel the company’s new president and CEO. Manuel has run significant businesses in Canada and the United States with particular expertise in building sales organizations, enhancing the customer service experience and using an entrepreneurial approach to build strong and profitable organizations.

“I am very excited about leading Stephenson’s, which is a best-in-class organization that has a solid business model and strong growth opportunities,” Manuel said.

Manual replaces Willie Swisher, who is retiring after leading Stephenson’s since the beginning of 2002. During Swisher’s tenure, the company doubled in size and tripled in profitability. Swisher led the transformation of the 50+-year-old company from a general tool/homeowner company into one of the leading suppliers to the professional contractor base in Toronto and surrounding areas. Swisher, who is leaving to return to his native Houston, told RER, when he announced his retirement from the company in August, that the company would seek a successor who could help the company expand and grow over the next five to 10 years.

In July 2007, EdgeStone Capital Partners, one of Canada’s leading private equity managers, became the principal shareholder of Stephenson’s Rental Services. EdgeStone plans to invest and support future Stephenson’s growth initiatives, including fleet expansion, new market penetration and/or key strategic competitor acquisitions.

Based in the Toronto suburb of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, Stephenson’s Rental Services is No. 35 on the RER 100.