Senior executive changes at Deere & Company
Deere & Company has reported changes to its leadership team in response to the planned retirement of a member of senior management later this year.
Changes include the retirement of Max Guinn, president of Deere’s Worldwide Construction & Forestry Division, effective Nov. 15.
Guinn is retiring after 38 years at Deere. He joined the Moline, Ill.-based company in 1980 and has held numerous management and leadership assignments.
"We are taking this opportunity to realign the senior management team to improve efficiency, further develop leadership talent, and more effectively align the organization in support of the company's business strategy," said Samuel Allen, chairman and CEO of the equipment manufacturer.
James Field is replacing Guinn and has been appointed as president of the division, also effective Nov. 15.
Field had been a president in Deere's Agriculture & Turf Division and has an extensive background in finance and operations, the company said. In his new role he will focus on sustainable, profitable growth around the globe as well as the continued integration of the Wirtgen Group, according to a statement issued by Deere & Company.
Other changes include John May being appointed president of president of the Worldwide Agriculture & Turf Division - Global Harvesting and Turf Platforms, Ag Solutions, Americas and Australia. Mark von Pentz, has been named president of Worldwide Agriculture & Turf Division, Global Tractor and Hay & Forage Platforms, Europe, CIS, Asia, Africa.
Also, Raj Kalathur has been appointed senior vice president, chief financial officer, and chief information officer.
After successful assignments in engineering, quality, supply management and factory management, Guinn became vice president of manufacturing in the Construction & Forestry Division in 2000, moved to the Agriculture & Turf Division in 2005 as senior vice president of manufacturing and engineering for harvesting equipment, and later served as senior vice president for the global harvesting platform.
Guinn joined the company's senior management team in 2012 as senior vice president for human resources, communications, public affairs, and labor relations. He has been president of Worldwide Construction & Forestry since October 2014 and directed the 2017 acquisition of the Wirtgen Group, the road building equipment maker. It was the company's largest-ever acquisition and a move that added global scale to Deere’s construction equipment business.
Changes include the retirement of Max Guinn, president of Deere’s Worldwide Construction & Forestry Division, effective Nov. 15.
Guinn is retiring after 38 years at Deere. He joined the Moline, Ill.-based company in 1980 and has held numerous management and leadership assignments.
"We are taking this opportunity to realign the senior management team to improve efficiency, further develop leadership talent, and more effectively align the organization in support of the company's business strategy," said Samuel Allen, chairman and CEO of the equipment manufacturer.
James Field is replacing Guinn and has been appointed as president of the division, also effective Nov. 15.
Field had been a president in Deere's Agriculture & Turf Division and has an extensive background in finance and operations, the company said. In his new role he will focus on sustainable, profitable growth around the globe as well as the continued integration of the Wirtgen Group, according to a statement issued by Deere & Company.
Other changes include John May being appointed president of president of the Worldwide Agriculture & Turf Division - Global Harvesting and Turf Platforms, Ag Solutions, Americas and Australia. Mark von Pentz, has been named president of Worldwide Agriculture & Turf Division, Global Tractor and Hay & Forage Platforms, Europe, CIS, Asia, Africa.
Also, Raj Kalathur has been appointed senior vice president, chief financial officer, and chief information officer.
After successful assignments in engineering, quality, supply management and factory management, Guinn became vice president of manufacturing in the Construction & Forestry Division in 2000, moved to the Agriculture & Turf Division in 2005 as senior vice president of manufacturing and engineering for harvesting equipment, and later served as senior vice president for the global harvesting platform.
Guinn joined the company's senior management team in 2012 as senior vice president for human resources, communications, public affairs, and labor relations. He has been president of Worldwide Construction & Forestry since October 2014 and directed the 2017 acquisition of the Wirtgen Group, the road building equipment maker. It was the company's largest-ever acquisition and a move that added global scale to Deere’s construction equipment business.