Change at the top for BlueLine Rental

BlueLine Rental, previously Volvo Rents, was acquired in January by private equity company Platinum Equity in an €800 million deal. The BlueLine Rental brand identity was launched in February following the transition to new ownership.

Mr Hobson said he was excited to join the BlueLine team, adding, “We have a tremendous opportunity to build on the strength and experience of the past while establishing our own identity and propelling the company to even higher levels of achievement."

Louis Samson, the partner at Platinum Equity who led the BlueLine Rental acquisition, said Mr Hobson’s experience at RSC made him a perfect fit for BlueLine.

“He is passionate about the rental equipment business and is well respected in the industry. His track record at RSC and throughout his career proves that he knows what it takes to build an industry leader,” Mr Samson said.

Future growth

He added that the company was targeting both organic growth and through “prospective complementary add-on acquisitions”.

Bryan Kelln, partner and president of portfolio operations for Platinum Equity, said, “We have high aspirations for BlueLine and we are confident that Phil is the right executive to help the company maximize its potential.

“He has the vision, leadership ability and industry experience necessary to lead the company into the future. He will help drive efforts to optimise business operations and profitability, while focussing on growth and effectively managing the company’s young fleet.”