Columbus McKinnon Corporation, a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of material handling products, today announced that Joseph Maliekel has been appointed as Chief Accounting Officer. Joe joined Columbus McKinnon in October 2009 as Corporate Controller.

Karen Howard, Vice President-Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Columbus McKinnon, commented, “We continue to develop our financial organization to support our global growth strategy and have long recognized the importance of the excellence of our people to achieve our strategic and financial objectives. Joe has demonstrated his wealth of global controlling and accounting experience and has applied his expertise and leadership in technical US GAAP interpretation and application, SEC reporting, SOX compliance, as well as acquisition due diligence and accounting.”  In addition to her current positions, Ms. Howard also formerly served as the Company’s Chief Accounting Officer.

Prior to joining Columbus McKinnon, Mr. Maliekel spent two years as part of BDO Seidman’s professional services team in Chicago, and prior to that, he was responsible for a variety of financial areas with increasing responsibility, including leading external reporting, policies and compliance and acquisition accounting  for Monsanto Company in St. Louis for over seven years.  He began his accounting career at Deloitte in Chicago, gaining over 12 years experience with that firm.  A certified public accountant, Mr. Maliekel earned his M.B.A. at Washington University in St. Louis and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Loyola University in Chicago.