Marcel Braud, honorary chairman and founder of the Manitou forklift truck, has passed away at the age of 93.
He joined the family business Braud Mécanique Générale after World War II, first as a labourer, then working as a painter, welder, assembler and foreman.
In 1958, he came up with the idea for the forklift truck, inverting the design of a tractor and adding a lifting mast and power steering. He called it the Manitou.
He would go on to hold several more positions within the company, notably workshop manager and purchasing manager, before becoming chairman and CEO in 1970, and subsequently was chairman of the board of directors from 2007 to 2017.
Under his leadership, the company developed its export market and became a publicly traded business. In a statement from Manitou, it says that his passion for the business remained, and he was regularly seen in the factory and at international trade shows up until the start of this year.
Jacqueline Himsworth, chairman of the board of directors, Manitou Group, stated: “My brother dedicated his life to Manitou Group. Thanks to him, our small family business became an international leader, recognized for its products, values, and innovation. He was a passionate man who shared his energy and pride in belonging to our group with everyone. He possessed that rare genius for anticipating the needs of professionals.
“We are losing a visionary, but his entrepreneurial spirit continues to guide our course. Marcel-Claude Braud, Sébastien Braud, and Emilie Braud, Board members of Manitou Group, join me in sharing our profound grief.”
Michel Denis, president & CEO, added: “Marcel Braud was an extraordinary man and entrepreneur. Throughout the decades spent at the head of the group, he created exceptional products, experiences, and solutions with pride and perseverance, and in doing so, contributed significantly to changing the daily lives of millions of professionals in construction, agriculture, and industry.
“It is to him that we owe the ‘big family’ culture that continues to inspire our teams around the world today. The management team and all 6,000 employees join in the grief of his family and loved ones.”