Grove management shifts

June 09, 1998|By RICHARD F. BELISLE, Waynesboro

SHADY GROVE, Pa. - Salvatore "Sam" Bonanno, president and chief executive officer of Grove Worldwide, announced a major management change Monday.

Joseph Shull, president and chief operating officer of Grove Crane, one of the corporation's three divisions, is being replaced by Jeffry D. Bust, president and general manager of Manitowoc Cranes Inc., a Wisconsin-based crane manufacturer and Grove competitor.

Bust took over Monday.

According a release from Bonanno, Bust will report to Shull until Shull leaves the company at the end of September. After that, Bust will report to Bonanno, the release said.

Shull, who has 30 years of service, will serve as chairman of Grove Crane until he leaves. Shull plans to open a private consulting firm, for which Grove will be a major client, Bonanno said.

Prior to Manitowoc Cranes, Bust was senior vice president of the mining equipment division and vice president of operations for Harnischfeger Corporation. He is a U.S. Naval Academy graduate and earned a master's degree from the Tuck School of Business.

Shull is the third executive to leave Grove since the giant crane-maker was sold in mid-March to Keystone, Inc., a Fort Worth, Texas, investment firm.

Robert C. Stift, the corporation's chairman and chief executive officer, was replaced by Bonanno. Leaving with him was G. Fred Heidinger, senior vice president and chief financial officer since 1993.

Bonanno, 57, was executive vice president of Foamex, a leading manufacturer of polyurethane. Before that he worked for the Chrysler Corporation for 30 years, leaving as general manager of the automaker's international manufacturing operations.

Grove employs about 2,500 workers in its Shady Grove plant, which also serves as its world headquarters.

The company designs and builds mobile hydraulic cranes, truck-mounted cranes and aerial work platforms in its three divisions - Grove Crane, National Crane and Grove Manlift.

The company started out making farm wagons in 1947. Last year it rolled out its 50,000th crane.

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