VANCOUVER — Westport Innovations appointed Tony Picarello vice-president of sales and marketing of its Global Heavy-Duty Business Unit, in an effort to capitalize on the company’s recent growth.

Westport is based in Vancouver and is a global supplier of solutions that allow engines to operate on clean-burning fuels such as compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), hydrogen and biofuels such as landfill gas. The company is also involved in a joint venture with Cummins – Cummins Westport – that manufactures and sells a broad range of low-emission alternative fuel engines for commercial transportation.

“The Westport LNG truck program has been attracting the attention of major private truck fleets in addition to the strong support demonstrated in southern California from the San Pedro Bay ports,” stated Michael Gallagher, president and COO of Westport. “Tony will be instrumental in ensuring that Westport’s LNG truck product is front and centre as fleet managers continue to look for higher levels of environmental and economic performance.”

With 20 years of experience in the global automotive products market, Picarello was most recently the executive director of marketing for Volvo Trucks North America, responsible for brand, product management and business solutions.

Prior to joining Volvo, Picarello held several senior executive sales and marketing positions with Ford Motor Company.

“With the Ports of LA and Long Beach looking to replace thousands of trucks with clean new replacement trucks, the time is now right for us to capitalize on this opportunity with the addition of a new senior sales and marketing executive to the Westport Global heavy duty management team,” added Gallagher. “Tony’s extensive experience with Volvo will be invaluable as we continue to expand Westport’s reach, brand and commercial deployment of heavy-duty LNG trucks in the marketplace.”