CLARK Material Handling announces top leadership appointments

CLARK Material Handling company, a leading manufacturer of forklifts and spare parts, has announced plans for upcoming leadership appointments in the North American company.

2023 was a record sales and revenue year for CLARK since the purchase of the company by the Young An company in 2003. To further drive growth, the company explained that effective July 1, 2024, it will move its current CEO to its board of directors, and move its current chief operating officer (COO) to the CEO role.

Dennis Lawrence, President and CEO of CLARK commented on the business’s success, “Our team has worked tirelessly for the past 20 years to rebuild a brand that we can all be proud of. We have endured many challenges with the downturn in the market between 2009 to 2011 and COVID-19 in 2020.Through it all, we have been successful in building a strong team with dedicated employees, dealers, and customers.”

Additionally, S.S. Baik, Chairman of CLARK Material Handling Board remarked, “We had a vision for this business when we acquired the company, and we could not be more pleased with its growth. As we look to the future, we are now making plans to welcome the third generation of the family into this business. They will begin to shape the vison of the business for future generations.”

To prepare for this growth, the company explained, Lawrence has been appointed to the Board of Directors for CLARK Material Handling and will step down as president and CEO on July 1, 2024. CLARK noted that he has made strong contributions as a key figure to YoungAn and the Baik Family for over 40 years. In this new role, he will work with the owners on various new strategic projects within the business. As Baik commented, “We are excited to have Dennis as part of this new team and look forward to growing the business together.”

CLARK also noted the company is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Binnie as CEO effective July 1, 2024. Binnie is currently serving as COO of CLARK Material Handling and has decades of experience leading dynamic teams. “Mr. Binnie brings a wealth of business experience to the team, and we are looking forward to the continued growth of the brand,” said Baik.

Lawrence added that Binnie has proven his business acumen and leadership strength as COO. "As the business continues to grow, we have full confidence in Mr. Binnie’s ability to build on the success of the company,” said Lawrence.

An industry leader since it invented the first material handling truck in 1917, CLARK has built more than one million forklifts in its 100-year history. CLARK supplies a full line of electric and internal combustion forklifts, manual pallet jacks, powered pallet jacks, narrow aisle forklifts and genuine CLARK aftermarket parts.