He replaces Neil Dickinson who will retire from the firm following a distinguished 36-year career.
Parkes, current director of Finning’s equipment solutions division will assume the role at the start of February.
As managing director, Parkes will join the senior leadership team and report to Finning’s chief executive officer Scott Thomson.
Parkes brings considerable experience having joined Finning as a graduate trainee in 1996 and then moving up the ranks in the equipment solutions division.
From 2010 to 2015, he became chief executive officer of plant hirer Hewden, following Finning’s decision to offload the business.