Manitou Group Honors the Legacy of Marcel Braud

Marcel Braud, honorary chairman and founder of Manitou Group, passed away on February 3, 2026, at the age of 93. A pioneer in innovation and industry leadership, Braud transformed a family business into a global benchmark for material handling, aerial work platforms, and earthmoving equipment. With a passion for ingenuity and a relentless drive to innovate, Braud's legacy continues to inspire Manitou Group's products, values, and culture.

The company is mourning the loss of its visionary leader, but his entrepreneurial spirit remains guiding the course of the group. Under Braud's leadership, Manitou Group expanded globally, went public, and built a robust dealer network that represents the company's core strength. Braud's story is one of destiny tied to the land and ingenuity, from his early days as a laborer to his revolutionary idea of inverting a farm tractor to create the first 'Manitou' forklift truck.

This simple yet groundbreaking concept would change the face of construction sites, farms, and industrial markets forever. As chairman until 2017, Braud held various positions within the company, including workshop manager, purchasing manager, and CEO, before becoming chairman of the Board of Directors. His leadership was marked by a commitment to innovation, customer satisfaction, and employee engagement.

The loss of Marcel Braud is deeply felt by his family, employees, and customers around the world. He will be remembered as a passionate man who shared his energy and pride in belonging to Manitou Group with everyone. Braud's entrepreneurial spirit continues to guide the course of the group, inspiring future generations of leaders and innovators.

The company will continue to honor his legacy through its products, values, and culture, ensuring that his vision for innovation and excellence remains at the heart of everything it does.