02.11.2021

David Samuel Baillie 1934 – 2021

We have received the sad news that former senior crane industry executive David Baillie has died a few weeks short of his 87th birthday.

He passed away in a French hospital on Thursday October 28th, leaving behind his current wife Gabi, his second wife Linda and their children Christian and Britt and the children from his first marriage with Sheila - Brett and Debbie who lived with Linda and him.
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David Baillie

Baillie was one of the driving forces behind Grove manufacturing’s phenomenal overseas growth during the 1970s that turned them into the worldwide market leader, fighting off competition from the previous market leaders, such as P&H, Link-Belt, American Hoist & Derrick and Lorain etc... that had started taking telescopic cranes more seriously, having initially been stuck in the lattice boom, ‘friction crane', mind-set.

Grove began building cranes in earnest in the early 1960s with truck cranes on purpose built crane carriers, followed by a swing cab Rough Terrain crane in 1968. The company had some notable success overseas, including a partnership with John Allen in the UK, using one of its truck crane chassis to develop the 22 tonne Allen Grove. It eventually acquired the business to great Grove Cranes Ltd. With a new owner in the form of Kidde, sales manager Martin Benchoff was promoted to chief executive. He understood the need to broaden the company’s international footprint, and opened offices in Paris and Brussels, but soon came to realise that in order to outrun the big, well established players, the company would also require an experienced international sales and marketing team to build and manage a strong dealer network.
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David Baillie in 1977

The company recruited Baillie - a civil engineer by education - as vice president international marketing. He came on board in February 1974 with the responsibility to make it happen. He had previously been marketing director at Allis Chalmers Overseas based in Rome and Nice, having worked for Caterpillar in the USA, Europe and Africa. Baillie was able to use his contacts and knowledge to rapidly put a team of seasoned district managers together and set up the necessary reporting channels in those pre-internet days. The company went from strength to strength. After a short spell he was promoted to senior vice president of marketing with overall responsibility for sales, marketing and customer services worldwide.
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David Baillie handing over one of the first RT980s

After a tough year in the1980s, and as Kidde began re-evaluating its presence in the crane market, and investigating divestment options - including a management buyout. Management friction broke out which led to his departure in 1986. He moved into consulting and company turnaround work, joining Alexander Proudfoot and later United Research/Gemini Consulting - which at the time was a global business with a strong focus on business transformations, during his time there he took over responsibility for Gemini France. He originally planned to retire to Colorado, where he had a home and di some development work, but set up home in Italy with his third wife Gabi. The couple moved to Brittany, France in 2012. At the time he said: “Although retired I am still active in teaching, writing and trying to improve my golf game.”
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David Baillie with son Christian at SED 2008

While he was a decent golfer, his preferred game during his years at Grove was tennis. He was an accomplished player and would play regularly over the summer months with anyone that was prepared to take him on. He was also a legendary story teller and would easily take over the dinner conversation, with stories of overseas encounters or hunting trips, depending very much on his audience. He was the essence of charm, highly sociable, and someone who appreciated the finer things that life had to offer. He could also be very down to earth, having the ability to talk with ease to anyone, no matter who they were. From Willy who swept the office floors, to the most eminent Dignitary. He would also take time to speak with and listen to the most junior of trainees, as though he had nothing else to do that day. A key factor in this was his genuine love of people, and company, and the love to laugh. Occasionally some found him to be a little too urbane and ‘polished', he certainly had the ‘gift of the gab’ along with the intellect to make the most of it. For the young sales trainees that were looking to become district managers he was most definitely a great role model and mentor.

Craig Paylor, past president of JLG, owner of National Truck Body Solutions who is working with LGMG, North America sums it up well when he says: “David Baillie was the model of a manufacturing executive for many many years in the construction equipment business. I had the privilege of working for David for a few years in the early 80s at Grove manufacturing. While we only saw each other a few times these past years, he always seemed to know when to call me when the marketplace was changing into something challenging and offer advice or listen to issues I had to deal with. From the first time you met David, no matter how young or inexperienced you were, he was one of the rare individuals, who had already reached the pinnacle of success, that would still take the time to share his experience. A rare trait we certainly could use more of in today's world! He was a worldly intellectual leader with vast knowledge in all aspects of product development, distribution, and strategic planning. The world has lost a modern pioneer and a great man. I wish I could thank him again!”

While he has been out of the crane industry for more than 35 years he kept in touch with people and would occasionally pop up at industry trade shows, initially to help promote the consulting firm he was working with at the time, but mostly to meet up with old friends and colleagues and catch up on what was happening in the crane and heavy equipment world. He had friends all over the world and there will be a great many who will mourn his passing.

I for one will be among them – Leigh Sparrow

UPDATE
David Baillie's funeral will be held on Friday, 5th November at 10:30 at the Church of Notre-Dame des Carmes, Place des Carmes, 29120 Pont-l'Abbé, France (29120). All friends and family are welcome to attend.
Flowers or messages can be sent to:
Funèbres et Marbrerie Michel Corbel,
Rue de Quillivic, 29120 PONT L'ABBE, France