Great Dane president retires

SAVANNAH, Ga. — After 50 years in the trailer industry, Phill Pines, president and chief operating officer of Great Dane Trailers, will retire at the end of this year.

William Crown, CEO, will take his place.

"I believe that Great Dane has the ability and the will to grow and better serve our customers and our people, while continuing to remain profitable," Pines said.

Pines began his career in the trailer industry in 1958 working alongside his father, Leo Pines, at their Monon Trailer dealership. There, he and his father began refurbishing used trailers and soon after started their own family trailer company, Pines Trailer Corporation in 1965.

Twenty-five years later the Pines’ formed a partnership with the Crown family. In January 1997, the partnership acquired Great Dane Trailers and Pines assumed his current role.

Pines says he will remain involved as a member of the Board of Advisors.

"Over the last 13 years I have worked closely with Bill Crown on numerous strategic and operational issues and am confident the company will continue to grow and prosper under his leadership."

After a distinguished career with American Airlines, Bill Crown joined the family business in 1993 in the marketing department.
The following year he was promoted to the role of CEO where he played a key role in the acquisition of Great Dane.