Effective on 1 September 2016, the U.S. quarrying and construction equipment giant will make the key R&D move after Gwenne Henricks, currently vice president with responsibility for the Product Development & Global Technology Division (PD>), retires.
Current Advanced Component & System Division (ACSD) vice president Jean Savage will lead this newly formed team of ACSD and PD> employees.
The manufacturing functions within ACSD will be led by current ACSD Operations General Manager Steve Ferguson, who will report directly to Resource Industries Group President Denise Johnson and drive lean, cost-competitive component manufacturing operations.
Henricks has spent the last four years leading the company’s R&D and technology strategies, concluding a successful 35 years of service to the company.
“Gwenne has spent her entire career in engineering, product and business management, which made her the absolute right advocate and leader to deploy the Enterprise Technology Strategy and strengthen the global engineering talent pipeline,” said Denise Johnson. “She is one of the most collaborative leaders who’s always focused on what’s best for the enterprise – whether that’s defining and executing on a turnaround plan during her time as Industrial Power Systems Division vice president or as a critical member of the Tier 4 emissions rollout across Caterpillar’s extensive product line. I thank Gwenne for her commitment to this company for more than three decades, and I wish her only the best in her well-deserved retirement.”
Since joining Caterpillar in 1981, Henricks held numerous product development, management and business leadership positions with increasing responsibility before being named vice president with responsibility for the Electronics and Connected Worksite Division in 2007. She then became vice president with responsibility for the Industrial Power Systems Division before the Board of Directors named her to her most recent position in 2012.
Henricks has both a bachelor’s degree in physics and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Bradley University, a master’s in business administration from the University of Illinois and completed the Managing Engineering Design and Development Program at Carnegie Bosch Institute, Carnegie Mellon University.
Savage, who joined Caterpillar subsidiary Progress Rail Services (PRS) in 2002, has an extensive background in engineering and manufacturing with PRS, Caterpillar and in the industry for 14 years prior. She also spent nine years in the Army Reserves as a military intelligence officer.
The holder of a bachelor’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Cincinnati and a master’s degree in engineering management from the University of Dayton, Savage’s proven leadership and background solidly position her to bring these two groups together as one new team focused on evolving Caterpillar’s technology and product development.
“Jean’s role in leading the formation and development of this new organisation will be critical in establishing how Caterpillar accelerates our global research, technology and product development strategies. Our end goal remains – helping our customers through the development and delivery of differentiated products,” said Johnson.
“The creation of this division will also deliver necessary efficiencies, which does mean continued and significant workforce reductions. While difficult, the streamlining at all levels of the company, including within the officer ranks, is necessary given the global market environment that is impacting the company’s business.”
