Top Stories of 2016: Aggreko Rental Chief Satrazemis Joins BlueLine Rental as New CEO
Aggreko Rental Solutions CEO Asterios Satrazemis is leaving Aggreko to join BlueLine Rental as its new CEO, replacing Phillip Hobson. Rental industry veteran Satrazemis will start his new job Jan. 4. Also Aggreko announced that Bruce Pool, a 17-year Aggreko veteran who has run the company’s European operations and most recently its North American operations will take over CEO of the rental solutions unit.
Satrazemis is stepping down from the Aggreko board December 17. As head of Aggreko Rental Solutions, based in Houston with operations in North America, United Kingdom, Europe, and Australia Pacific, Satrazemis led a business covering 19 countries with 2,500 employees, 139 branches and more than $900 million in revenue.
“Asterios is the right fit for BlueLine at this stage of the company’s evolution and we are excited about the experience and expertise he brings to the company,” said Louis Samson, partner at Platinum Equity, which owns BlueLine. “He is a hands-on leader with strong communication skills and a proven track record of growth.”
Satrazemis, before joining Aggreko in 2008, worked for 10 years at United Rentals in a range of business development and management positions. As vice president, southeast region, he was responsible for branches in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida with more than 1,000 employees.
“Asterios knows the industry and understands what it takes to succeed working with customers every day out in the field,” said Bryan Kellin, partner and president of portfolio operations for Platinum Equity. “We are confident in his ability to inspire the organization and create strong momentum.”
“BlueLine has extraordinary potential, with a strong network, comprehensive fleet and dedicated employees,” said Satrazemis. “I look forward to building on recent growth initiatives by getting out into the regions, connecting with our branches, and working with the teams on the ground.”
BlueLine, headquartered in Woodlands, Texas, in the Houston area, has completed three add-on acquisitions in the past 14 months: Alabama-based JustRuss Rental in September 2014; aerial specialist Trico Equipment in February 2015; and Virginia-based Area Equipment LLC in April 2015.
About the Author
Michael Roth
Editor
Michael Roth has covered the equipment rental industry full time for RER since 1989 and has served as the magazine’s editor in chief since 1994. He has nearly 30 years experience as a professional journalist. Roth has visited hundreds of rental centers and industry manufacturers, written hundreds of feature stories for RER and thousands of news stories for the magazine and its electronic newsletter RER Reports. Roth has interviewed leading executives for most of the industry’s largest rental companies and manufacturers as well as hundreds of smaller independent companies. He has visited with and reported on rental companies and manufacturers in Europe, Central America and Asia as well as Mexico, Canada and the United States. Roth was co-founder of RER Reports, the industry’s first weekly newsletter, which began as a fax newsletter in 1996, and later became an online newsletter. Roth has spoken at conventions sponsored by the American Rental Association, Associated Equipment Distributors, California Rental Association and other industry events and has spoken before industry groups in several countries. He lives and works in Los Angeles when he’s not traveling to cover industry events.