Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: www.elevatorbooks.com ALIMAK CEO GUNLEIKSRUD TO LEAVE COMPANY THIS YEAR Alimak Group President and CEO Tormod Gunleiksrud has informed the board of directors that he plans to leave his position this year, the company announced on January 15. Gunleiksrud, who took the position in November 2012, came to Stockholm-based Alimak from ABB in Switzerland, where he was manager of Operational Excellence for the Robotics Business Unit. Prior to that, he had served as president and regional manager North Asia for ABB Robotics, stationed in Shanghai. At the time of his appointment, Alimak said Gunleiksrud was "a perfect match to the future challenges of the group," citing his background in industrial businesses and his experience in China. Alimak made several key acquisitions during Gunleiksrud's tenure, effectively doubling the size of the company. The company statement said the board has begun evaluating potential successors. Alimak manufactures lifts and hoists for industrial uses, such as temporary construction elevators and permanent lifts in industrial settings. It has a global presence, with sales offices and distributorships in more than 100 countries. Image credit: courtesy of Alimak Group To read the full transcript of today's podcast, visit: elevatorworld.com/news Subscribe to the Podcast: iTunes │ Google Play | SoundCloud │ Stitcher │ TuneIn