VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Stihl Southeast Inc., distributor of Stihl outdoor power equipment for Florida, Georgia, Alabama and portions of the Caribbean, has announced that Randy Lail has been named president of the company effective immediately. Randy succeeds Bob Noble Jr., (affectionately known as JR) who passed away unexpectedly the morning of March 8, 2016. The announcement was made by Stihl Southeast, Inc. owner Bob Noble Sr. Randy Lail Stihl

“This is without a doubt the most difficult few days I have experienced,” said Noble, Sr. “JR was not only my son, he was a great friend and leader. He absolutely loved his employees and was very proud of the accomplishments our company experienced since he became president. I am going to miss him every day.”

“I felt it necessary to continue the company’s direction without the need for any major changes,” added Noble Sr. “Randy was the logical choice to take over the reins. He has done a superlative job as our vice president of finance and I have complete confidence he will continue the path JR set. Our entire executive group will remain intact and I will be more involved in major decisions moving forward.”

“I am completely humbled that SR has the faith and trust in me to lead this company,” said Lail. “I know that this has been difficult for him as well as all of JR’s family and friends. I want to assure our customers and employees that the direction JR set for Stihl Southeast will not change whatsoever. However, one of this company’s main assets is its willingness to be innovative when it comes to new programs and initiatives. That trait certainly has been a major contributor to our success and with the strength of our executives and employees, I am confident that we will continue to lead the industry.”

Lail was raised in Orlando and has a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Central Florida. Randy is a certified public accountant; he and his wife Amber still reside in Orlando and have three adult children. His hobbies include hunting, fishing, and golf.

About Stihl Southeast

Located in Orlando, Stihl Southeast (SSE) was founded in January 1988 by Bob Noble Sr. The company markets and distributes Stihl outdoor power equipment to 700 servicing dealers across Florida, Georgia, Alabama and several islands in the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.