Redmond, Wash.-based Terex Aerial Work Platforms, a business segment of Terex Corp., this week announced a realignment of its management team to better serve customers. The changes, which take effect Oct. 1, establish local management teams supported by a global infrastructure that reinforce Terex AWP as a global leader in work-at-height products.

“The environment for the aerial work platform industry is beginning to improve, and as the global economy gains strength, we need to be more flexible, responsive and local,” said Tim Ford, president, Terex AWP. "Traditionally strong aerial markets like North America and Europe are recovering and developing markets are accelerating their use of powered access equipment. 2011 and 2012 look like they will bring better times for our industry.

“Customers who buy Genie branded products have come to expect exceptional quality, high returns on invested capital and local support that is always available. Our organizational realignment emphasizes these three areas. As a market leader, it is vital that we leverage the strength of being global while presenting ourselves to customers as a local company in each market we serve. With last year’s opening of distribution and logistics operations in North Bend, Wash., and Roosendaal, the Netherlands, along with the anticipated fourth quarter start-up of a production facility in Changzhou, China, Terex AWP is investing globally to ensure customers around the world receive the same level of service, with products produced in local factories and sold and serviced by local staff.”

Joe George, formerly vice president global sales & customer care, has been named vice president and managing director, AWP EMEAR. George will be based in Terex Corp.’s European office in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. As a global executive, having lived and worked in Asia, Canada and the U.S. George brings 32 years of general management experience to his new position and will have responsibility for AWP European based operations, including sales, distribution engineering and manufacturing.

XS Koo, who is based in Hong Kong, remains in his current role as vice president and managing director, Asia Pacific. All operations in Asia, including the anticipated fourth quarter start up of Terex AWP’s Changzhou, China, facility, are under his leadership. Having worked for leading global multinational companies for more than 20 years, Koo brings an expert understanding of Asian markets.

Siva Balakrishnan has accepted the newly created position as vice president and general manager, AWP market and channel development. A critical element to supporting Terex’s growth over the next several years will be to develop new products and services that augment our traditional offerings to retail rental operators. In this role, Balakrishnan will retain operating responsibility for AWP’s 14 service centers and two refurbishment centers, while bringing his 16 years of global experience to identifying and developing new revenue streams and channels of distribution.

Terex Corp. is a diversified global manufacturer operating in four business segments: Terex Aerial Work Platforms, Terex Construction, Terex Cranes, and Terex Materials Processing.