Top Hertz executive quits

ESTERO — Brian MacDonald abruptly stepped down from his post as president and CEO of Hertz Equipment Rental, as the rental-car giant prepares to spin off that business.

MacDonald, whose resignation is effective immediately, briefly served as interim CEO of Hertz when Mark Frissora resigned last year. MacDonald was appointed to the Hertz Equipment Rental leadership post when former United Airlines executive John Tague was named CEO of Hertz, replacing Frissora.

In a statement, Hertz did not say why MacDonald left his post. The company named Lawrence Silber to succeed him at Hertz Equipment Rental, better known by its initials, HERC. Silber is a former Ingersoll Rand executive who most recently ran that company's utility equipment group.

In addition, the company reiterated its plans to spin off Hertz Equipment Rental into a separate company. Hertz Equipment Rental serves the construction and other industries with equipment and tools for rent and sale.

“Given his deep set of experiences in the heavy equipment sector, we are excited to have Larry Silber lead HERC's business transformation, while also helping us navigate through the HERC separation process,” says Tague, in a statement.