CEO DIARIES
With nearly two decades at the helm of Red Rooster Lifting, Paul Shewan has seen the lifting industry evolve through technological innovation, changing customer demands and an unwavering commitment to safety. Hoist speaks to Shewan as he shares his outlook on the trends, challenges and opportunities shaping the future of the sector.
Paul Shewan, managing director of Red Rooster Lifting.
GROWING INTO LEADERSHIP
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your role as an industry leader? I’m Paul Shewan, managing director of Red Rooster Lifting, based in Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire. We specialise in powered lifting equipment and bespoke lifting solutions for a wide range of industries. I’ve been with the company for 17 years, and during that time I’ve worked in a number of different roles across the business. That has given me a lot of hands- on experience and a much broader understanding of what our customers need, whether that’s equipment availability, technical support, project planning or a more bespoke lifting requirement. I started in the lifting industry straight from school at
Opposite page: In motor replacement lifts, air hoists are used to lower the old motor and lift its replacement into place.
16 through a four-year apprenticeship, and that gave me a strong grounding in the industry from an early stage. That practical background has stayed with me throughout my career and still shapes how I approach the business today. As managing director, my focus is on building on
the reputation Red Rooster Lifting has developed over the years as a trusted lifting partner and helping grow
12 | July/August 2026 |
www.hoistmagazine.com
the business further. Our reputation has been built on versatility, precision and responsiveness and a big part of my role is making sure we continue to deliver that in a way that is meaningful for our customers. Whether we are supplying, renting or maintaining lifting equipment, the aim is always to make sure customers have the tools, support and technical understanding they need to succeed, no matter how complex the challenge. It is also about continuing to invest in our people, our capability and the partnerships that help us support customers well across different markets. For me, good leadership in this industry is about experience, consistency and making sure the business keeps moving forward without losing sight of the standards that matter most.
Can you tell us how you got into this industry and why? I got into the industry almost by chance, really. When I was at school, I thought I’d end up going into joinery or construction, but the opportunities I’d applied for had
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