The company said on Thursday that long-time executives Rich Lavin and Gerard Vittecoq would step down as group presidents for construction industries and growth markets and energy and power systems, respectively, due to retirement.
Just a day later, the OEM said vice presidents Bill Springer and Gary Stampanato would follow suit after long careers.
Springer – who has worked with Cat for more than 29 years, most recently as vice president of the diversified products division – will leave on February 1.
Excavation division vice president Gary Stampanato also retires on February 1, after 35 years with the company.
Appointed as China operations vice president is Qihua Chen. He will also assume the role of country manager for Cat in China.
“Caterpillar has a long history in the Chinese market, and as China's economy has developed and matured over the last several decades, the company and its dealers have made significant investments to grow operations and customer support facilities,” officials said.
With its 2015 strategy having a China focus, the OEM said it created the new, Beijing-based executive position Chen will hold after he spent several years serving as general manager for Caterpillar's flagship manufacturing facility in China, Caterpillar Xuzhou.
The company has also given new responsibilities to vice presidents Rob Charter, Paolo Fellin, Gwenne Henricks and Tana Utley, effective January 1.
Following Stampanato’s retirement as excavation vice president, Asia Pacific distribution division vice president Rob Charter has been named as his replacement. Charter was first named a Caterpillar vice president in 2009.
Paolo Fellin, vice president for the EAME distribution division, will now be vice president of the newly created construction industries sales and marketing division in Geneva, Switzerland, where he is based. The 32-year Cat veteran will report to Ed Rapp.
Gwenne Henricks, a vice president since 2007 for the UK-based industrial power systems and growth markets division, will relocate to the US to be its chief technology officer, and vice president of the product development and global technology division.
Current chief technology officer and vice president of the product development and global technology Tana Utley becomes vice president of the UK-based industrial power systems and growth markets division.
Replacing Fellin as vice president of the EAME distribution division is Nigel Lewis, and replacing Charter as vice president of Asia Pacific distribution division will be Jim Johnson.
Springer’s retirement as vice president of the diversified products division has resulted in the appointment of Denise Johnson, the current general manager of Caterpillar's specialty products business unit.
Caterpillar Global Mining chief financial officer Julie Lagacy has been selected vice president of the company’s finance services division following the appointment Brad Halverson as group president and CFO.
Finally, Tom Pellette has been tapped for the seat of vice president and president of the solar turbines arm.
He will succeed Jim Umpleby, who is the new Caterpillar group president with responsibility for energy and power systems division.
Pellette is currently solar turbines vice president for customer services.
