Novae names Manish Bhandari as new CEO

Shown in the photo above are Chris Storie, left, co-founder of Novae, and Manish Bhandari, new CEO of the corporation. Bhandari assumed his role this past Tuesday.

Markle-based Novae announced Tuesday that Manish Bhandari has taken over as CEO, succeeding co-founder Chris Storie, who will remain involved with the company on its board of directors.

Bhandari most recently served as CEO of Current, a lighting solutions manufacturer headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina. He also held multiple leadership roles with New Jersey-based Emerson Electric.

Storie and co-founder Steve Bermes will continue to serve as executive vice chairs of the Novae board.

“Steve and I have dedicated our professional lives to Novae, and we are confident that under Manish’s leadership the company will achieve new milestones,” Storie said in a news release. “His vast experience and leadership skills are exactly what Novae needs as it enters this new chapter. I am excited to support Manish and the team in my new role.”

Novae was founded in 1995 and manufactures a variety of trailer products including cargo and car haulers, equipment trailers, dump trailers and tilt trailers through brands such as Sure-Trac Trailers, ITI Cargo and LOOK Trailers, the latter of which was acquired in 2022.

Last February Novae broke ground on a $35 million, 150,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Markle, its third in the town and seventh in Indiana. The company said the project would add up to 36 jobs by the end of this year.

Novae operates more than 20 manufacturing facilities nationwide and employs 500 people in Indiana, including about 225 in Markle.