Michel Gigou, formerly president and chief executive officer of Mack Trucks, was named president and CEO of Volvo Trucks North America. Succeeding Gigou at Mack is Paul Vikner, formerly a Mack vice president, who returns to the company after a short absence. Mack and Volvo Trucks North America are divisions of Volvo Global Trucks.
Gigou began his career with Renault in 1972, and held a number of management positions in France, Sweden and the United Kingdom. He was made Mack president and CEO in 1996 and had led the company to four straight years of market share growth. Volvo acquired Mack and Renault’s other truck businesses last year.
Vikner began his trucking career with Mack in 1972. He also held management positions with Iveco Trucks of North America, Isuzu Truck of America and American Isuzu Motors. He returned to Mack in 1995 as senior vice president, sales, and was named executive vice president, sales and marketing, in 1996.
“I’m really happy,” Vikner said. “Mack’s got a lot of good things going for it, especially in this kind of economy.”
Speaking at a product introduction for dealers and the trucking media in June, Vikner said, “It’s great to be back.” Vikner credited Gigou with laying the foundation for continued market share growth at Mack.
“The mark Michel Gigou made on the company will remain a long, long time,” Vikner said. “There’s a good chance we can get to 15-percent market share this year.”
