Holly McDade has joined Merlo America as Finance Manager, bringing more than 15 years of experience in accounting, construction, and industrial manufacturing environments to the company’s growing North American team.
ROCK HILL, SC - May 2026 - Merlo America is pleased to announce the appointment of Holly McDade as Finance Manager. Based in South Carolina, McDade will oversee financial operations and support the continued development of accounting systems as well as reporting processes and compliance structures as the company expands its presence across the U.S.
McDade brings extensive experience in accounting and financial management within construction and industrial sectors to the role. Over the course of her career, she has held multiple senior roles across a range of organizations, supporting everything from day-to-day financial operations to large-scale systems implementations, including enterprise-wide ERP rollouts.
Her background spans accounts payable, payroll, billing, financial reporting, and systems integration, as well as process implementation and supporting organizational transitions through growth and private equity ownership. Prior to joining Merlo America, McDade worked across multiple industrial and manufacturing-focused companies, including those serving highly technical sectors such as oil and gas and nuclear-related manufacturing.
“I’ve spent most of my career in environments where accounting and operations are tightly connected, and where there’s always a new problem to solve,” McDade shares. “What drew me to Merlo America was the culture. From my first few weeks alone, I could tell this was a team that genuinely enjoys working together and supporting one another. There’s a real sense that everyone is pulling in the same direction which is exactly the type of team I want to be a part of.”
Strengthening Financial Systems and Supporting Growth
In her role, McDade will focus on enhancing financial processes, supporting system improvements, and helping align accounting practices across both U.S. and international operations, including close collaboration with Merlo’s headquarters in Italy. A key priority will be contributing to an upcoming system implementation designed to streamline reporting and improve operational efficiency.
“I enjoy working in environments where you can bring structure to complexity. There are always moving pieces in a business like this, and finance is really about making sure everything fits together in a clear and reliable way. I love solving problems and building processes that make life easier not just for accounting, but for the wider team as well,” adds McDade.
This appointment comes at a time of continued investment in Merlo America’s operational infrastructure as the company expands its footprint across construction, agriculture, and forestry markets throughout North America.
Passionate About Culture, Committed to Curiosity
Cole Renken, General Manager at Merlo America, welcomed the appointment, highlighting McDade’s depth of experience and practical approach to financial management: “Holly brings a strong combination of technical accounting expertise and real-world operational experience.
“She truly understands the importance balancing structure and collaboration, and she’s already made a positive impact in a very short period of time. We’re excited to have her on board as we continue strengthening our financial systems and supporting the company’s growth.”
Beyond her role in finance, McDade is passionate about travel and experiencing different cultures, something she says has helped shape both her personal outlook and professional approach: “I’ve always believed that traveling and seeing how other people live makes you more understanding and open-minded. The world is huge, and there’s always something new to learn from different people, cultures, and places,” she shares.
As part of her onboarding and training, McDade will soon travel to Merlo Group headquarters in Italy, where she will work alongside colleagues from the global team.
“I’m really looking forward to visiting Italy and seeing firsthand how everything comes together at the source,” McDade concludes. “It’ll be a great opportunity to learn more about the business and build relationships with the team there, both of which are experiences and insights I’m excited to bring back to help support our team and customers here in the U.S.” positioned for what’s ahead.
