Mack’s Vikner says goodbye
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Mack Trucks president and CEO Paul Vikner stepped down as of April 1 after 38 years in the trucking industry. His last act as the top Bulldog came as he hosted the Mack press conference at the Mid-America Trucking Show last Thursday. He had been the company’s president since 2001.
Dennis R. Slagle has succeeded Vikner. The 53-year-old has served since 2003 as president and CEO of Volvo Construction Equipment North America and he has more than 25 years of
experience in that industry. He was formerly president of L.B. Smith, Inc., Volvo Construction Equipment’s largest North American dealer at the time.
Vikner will become vice chairman of the Mack board of directors. He will also continue to represent both Mack and its parent company, the Volvo Group, in their work with various federal government entities and industry organizations affecting the Volvo Group’s North
American truck operations. He said he’ll be spending much of his time in Washington, DC.
“We don’t see any bright light right around the corner,” Vikner said in addressing the truck manufacturing industry’s present plight. “It’s likely that 2009 will be better than 2008 but going out to 2010 it’s anybody’s guess.”
He added that the next emissions hurdle in 2010 will probably not be as disruptive as 2007 in terms of truck sales. “The whole industry learned a lot during the ’07 launches.”
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