H. E. Services Group, which celebrates its 50th year this year, is pleased to announce the appointment of Brendan Walsh as the new Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective from 14 November 2022. Walsh is an experienced business leader who has worked in senior roles across several industries.

Prior to joining H. E. Group Ltd, Walsh led an impressive career in banking and asset finance, most recently as CEO for a sister company of the Bank of London and The Middle East plc (‘BLME Bank’). 

Following continued growth and expansion of H. E. Group, Walsh is being brought on board to assist the entrepreneurial Chairman of the H. E. Group Ltd, Hugh Edeleanu with the day to day running of the Group of Companies, as well as to plan and administer the direction and future development of each individual business within the group including; H. E. SERVICES (Plant Hire) Ltd, Diggerland UK Theme Parks, Diggerland Plant Training School, BuyADigger, Masterhitch Europe Ltd, EVision Electric Vehicles and Solarvault. 

During the transition period, Walsh will be fully immersed in the H. E. Group, spending time with the senior management teams of each individual company on a rotational basis. Walsh will work closely with the Directors and Managers of H. E. SERVICES (Plant Hire) Ltd, the UK’s largest specialist excavator plant hire company, as well as the management of EVision Electric Vehicles – the UK’s first and largest all-electric vehicle rental company. Walsh will also be focused on overseeing the reopening of the 4 Diggerland UK theme parks, ahead of the new 2023 season.

Speaking of his accomplishment in securing his new role as CEO, Walsh said “I am honoured to step into the position of CEO and excited about the opportunity that’s ahead for the H. E. Group. The marketplaces in which H. E. Group operate are changing rapidly, but with The Group’s rich history of delivering outstanding services to a wide range of industries from plant hire and sales to theme park entertainment, environmental services and more, coupled with the talent of a fantastic team, I am enthusiastic and confident in our ability to deliver the innovative products and services our customers desire, want and need.”

Hugh Edeleanu, Chairman and Founder, said “I am delighted that Brendan Walsh is now on board as our new Chief Executive Officer. He is a highly respected business leader who has impressed the Board with his extensive knowledge and experience. I trust and believe he has the skills and expertise to drive the H. E. Group forward. I very much look forward to the future and working with him.”

About H. E. Group Ltd

From its inception in 1972 as H. E. Services, The H. E. Services Group has grown to become a major force in the Construction Industry through its commitment to people, quality and customer service. 

1. E. Group Ltd is the holding company, and provides the financial, property, management, marketing and administrative support for all Group and associate companies.
2. E. SERVICES (Plant Hire) Ltd is the backbone of the Group, and it is from this company’s operations that most other Group companies, associate companies and divisions have evolved. 

Now Europe’s largest excavator hire company, H.E. SERVICES (Plant Hire) Ltd boasts a fleet exceeding 3,500 items of plant, which are offered for hire nationwide via a network of strategically located depots.

Purchasing only the most advanced and productive machines available from manufacturers such as Komatsu, JCB, Bomag, Thwaites, Manitou and Hydrema, and coupling this with the very best of service from a dedicated workforce, H. E. SERVICES (Plant Hire) Ltd is recognised as the undisputed market leader in excavator hire. 

BuyADigger is the sales division of the H. E. Group Ltd providing quality used construction equipment to an international market. 

Constantly searching for innovation to keep H.E. SERVICES ahead of the field in plant hire, Hugh Edeleanu and his team have developed a range of innovative products to provide greater value for money to customers. Hugh put his engineering honours degree to good effect, designing a radical new dedicated quick hitch system that resolved the inherent problems of most other hitches on the market. Then Masterhitch was born, and such was the success of the product that in 1994 a new company, Masterhitch Europe Ltd., was formed, to manufacture, develop and market this product, together with a remit to research and devise new innovations for use in the Construction Plant Market.

Diggerland, an Adventure Park where children can drive diggers and dumpers for fun, was set up in the year 2000 at the Strood site. This proved an immediate success, with visitor numbers rising to over 50,000 in the first year. 2001 saw the opening of two additional Diggerlands, one in Durham and one in Devon, with a fourth in West Yorkshire in 2007 and more planned for the future. More recently, in 2020 the Diggerland Plant Training School opened to provide machine operator training courses. 

EVision Electric Vehicles, the UK’s first and largest all-electric vehicle rental company was set up in 2014 to meet demand for alternative and forward-thinking transport,including electric cars and vans for rent nationwide.