NEW CEO NAMED AS WITTUR/SEMATIC DEAL CLOSES

The Wittur Group has announced Patrik Wohlhauser as its new CEO upon closing its merger with Sematic on April 1. Wohlhauser was formerly chief operating officer at Evonik Industries AG. Frank Schulkes, former chief financial officer (CFO) and executive vice president of GE Healthcare, was previously named Wittur CFO. The news comes after Walter Rohregger resigned as CEO and Daniel Wiest resigned as CFO. Michael Siefke, chairman of Wittur Group's Supervisory Board, said since Wohlhauer comes from outside the elevator industry, he “will add a fresh pair of eyes and strive to implement innovate best practices which go beyond our sector."

NYCHA MAKING CHANGES FOLLOWING INVESTIGATION

The elevator division of the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) is making changes after the city’s Department of Investigation found the division failed to properly respond to malfunctions among its 3,300 elevators, The New York Times reports. The investigation comes in the wake of an 84-year-old man succumbing to injuries he sustained in a malfunctioning elevator in a Bronx apartment complex in December. NYCHA says it is following the department’s recommendations, including disciplining 10 employees, making sure brake monitors are operational and establishing new codes that prioritize elevator problems.

29-STORY RESIDENTIAL TOWER PROPOSED IN TORONTO

A 29-story building with approximately 520 residences and ground-level retail is proposed along a stretch of Yonge Street in Toronto, Urban Toronto reports. Replacing a row of single-story properties, the plan includes an adjacent two-story Mitsubishi car dealership and four levels of underground parking. Quadrangle Architects designed a structure with an L-shaped, eight-10-story base topped by a tower rising approximately 92 m from the ground. No construction timeframe was given.