14.03.2016

Thomas Bennett 1943-2016

Tom Bennett, former chief executive of Prime Equipment/RSC has died, aged 72. He had been suffering from cancer and passed away on March 9th in Brenham, Texas,

Bennett began his rental career as a yard worker and mechanic at A Tool Crib in Pasadena, California. He was then recruited as equipment manager by Houston, Texas based Grace Equipment which later became Prime Equipment and later merged with RSC - Rental Service Corporation. He steadily worked his way up through the organisation, as facility manager for its largest branch, regional manager, regional vice president and finally chief executive and director in 1990.

Bennett managed the company throughout the 1990s and through a number of ownership changes, ending up with Atlas Copco. In 1999 he was then promoted to chief executive of Atlas Copco's rental service business area.
He retired from his executive post in December 2001,although remained on board for a while as a non executive director.

Since retiring when he has focused on the management of his ranch, he is survived by his wife Janie, two daughters, a son and stepson and two granddaughters.