Ainscough Crane Hire names new chief

Standish-based Ainscough Crane Hire has appointed Janet Entwistle, a specialist in running private equity-owned companies, as chief executive following the decision of Robin Richardson to step down.

Entwistle’s most recent role was as chief executive of property services group, Knight Square Holdings for three years up until August 2015. Prior to that she was managing director of BT Fleet, a specialist fleet management business.

Ainscough said Richardson, chiefe executive for three years, will work with the new boss “to ensure a smooth transition” in the coming months.

Details of Richardson’s next move were not disclosed.

Ainscough Crane Hire operates the largest and most diverse fleet of mobile cranes in the country. The company employs more than 1,000 people and operates a fleet of 470 cranes.

Since March 2015, Ainscough has been owned by US-based Oaktree Capital Management. The Ainscough family sold the business for £225m in 2007 shortly before the financial crisis.