Spartan Motors, Inc., announced the appointment of Tom Ninneman as president of Fleet Vehicles and Services (FVS), which includes the Utilimaster and Spartan Upfit Services brands, effective June 2. Ninneman will succeed John Forbes, who is retiring from the role he has served in since July 2010.

Ninneman most recently served as the Chief Operating Officer of Smeal Fire Apparatus Co., an industry-leading innovator and manufacturer of fire apparatus in North America, which Spartan acquired earlier this year. Prior to joining Smeal, he served as the President of Taylor Corporation, and has also served in a variety of operating and managerial roles at Oshkosh Corporation, a manufacturer of specialty vehicles and vehicle bodies. He brings over 25 years of business and leadership experience to the FVS segment, including 10 years anchored in custom vehicle manufacturing across the emergency response,  construction, and defense markets.

“We are pleased to welcome Tom as the new president of our Fleet Vehicles and Services business unit,” said Daryl Adams, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We have already begun this transition and are confident that Tom is the right fit to help drive operational performance to the next level. He brings extensive industry experience and expertise in client management and problem solving, which will benefit our team and our customers for years to come.”

John Forbes joined the Utilimaster Corporation as its Chief Financial Officer in 2009. Less than one year later, he transitioned into the role of President, where he has since focused on building the team, supporting customers, increasing revenues, and improving profitability. Forbes will continue to work with the Company until June 2 to support a seamless transition.

“John and his team have grown Fleet Vehicles and Services sales from $113 million in 2010 to over $278 million last year,” added Adams. “After many years of manning the helm, he has graciously assisted us in transitioning the role to Tom, and we could not be more grateful for his service to the Company. I want to thank him, on behalf of everyone at Spartan and our Board of Directors, for his numerous contributions over the past several years. We wish him all the best going forward.”