Cat Changes The Org Chart Again

In a year, when even by its own frenetic standards, Caterpillar Inc. has made a lot of personnel and structural changes, the Deerfield, Ill.-based manufacturer has now made another series of moves that further increases the pace of change.

These moves include a series of officer moves, with changes in responsibilities for three Executive Office members, a new president of the engine group, new roles for two current vice presidents, the appointment of two new vice presidents, and two new divisions being formed. Everything is effective effective March 1.

After four years as group president separately leading the Construction Industries and Energy & Transportation segments, Tom Pellette has elected to return to San Diego, Calif. for family reasons. Pellette will now serve as president of Solar Turbines, a wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar, which designs, manufactures and services gas turbine systems and compressors for the oil and gas and power generation industries. He previously spent more than 20 years in the division. Pellette will also serve as strategic advisor to the Caterpillar Executive Office.

Caterpillar next said it is separating the current Global Power Systems Divisions into two new industry focused divisions: Oil, Gas and Marine Division and Electric Power Division.
Joe Creed, currently vice president of Caterpillar’s Finance Services Division, will become the new vice president of the Oil, Gas and Marine Division. He most recently served as interim chief financial officer for the company. Prior to his time in Caterpillar’s finance operations, Creed worked in the company’s engine and machine businesses.

Pablo Koziner, a vice president of Caterpillar and currently president of Solar Turbines, will become the new vice president of the Electric Power Division. He has nearly 20 years of experience in various roles around the world, the last six as a vice president.

Ramin Younessi, currently group president of Energy & Transportation, which oversees all Cat’s engine activities, will now move over to lead Construction Industries with responsibility of the company’s Earthmoving, Excavation, Building Construction Products, China Operations and Global Construction & Infrastructure divisions, as well as Global Rental and Used Equipment Services.

In turn, Billy Ainsworth, currently senior vice president of the Caterpillar Rail Division and CEO of Progress Rail, will now become the group president of the Energy & Transportation segment. Since 2017, Ainsworth has served as strategic advisor to the Caterpillar Executive Office in addition to his responsibilities for the Rail Division.

Marty Haycraft has been named to succeed Ainsworth as vice president of Caterpillar’s Rail Division and CEO of Progress Rail. Haycraft is currently the president of Progress Rail’s global operations where his primary responsibilities include overseeing the company’s rolling stock and infrastructure businesses.