Great Dane President Phill Pines to Retire at End of Year

Great Dane Trailers president and chief operating officer Phill Pines will retire at the end of this year after more than 50 years in the trailer industry, the company said Thursday.

Great Dane Trailers, which has headquarters in Chicago and Savannah, Ga., said Chief Executive Officer William Crown will assume the additional roles of president and COO when Pines leaves.

“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 in a statement.  “We have the right leadership team in place to continue our success. I believe this is the appropriate time to announce my retirement.”

Pines led his family-owned business, Pines Trailer Corp., for 25 years before forming a partnership with the Crown Family in 1988. In January 1997, the partnership acquired Great Dane Trailers, and he assumed his current roles.