Industry News News
New leadership at CAT Forestry

Kevin Thieneman, currently Caterpillar’s country manager for China, India and Southeast Asia, will replace Carpenter as president of Caterpillar Forest Products. “Kevin will bring continued great energy to this position and will continue to take us to the next levels of forestry,” commented Carpenter during a media conference call.

Thieneman has been with Caterpillar for 20 years and has held a variety of leadership positions in product development, sales and marketing, and operations. He has been based in Asia for 11 years, including assignments in Singapore, Beijing and Hong Kong.

Carpenter will serve as Caterpillar’s global Construction Industries Technology & Solutions manager, where he will be responsible for developing and executing the Construction Industries global technology strategy to deliver customer value through technology enabled solutions focused on equipment management, productivity and safety.

As president of Caterpillar Forest Products, Carpenter has successfully improved the company’s forestry business through expanded product offerings, improvements in technology including Tier 4 Interim engines, modernization and expansion of manufacturing facilities and improved product quality and availability.

“I leave Forestry with mixed emotions but look forward to the new challenges that lay ahead. I’ve had the privilege of meeting and working with a lot of talented and passionate customers, distributors and employees within the worldwide Forestry market,” Carpenter said. “I will miss all those relationships, but I’m proud of what we have accomplished in Caterpillar Forest Products.

“The most significant accomplishment — the one I am most proud of — is that everything we do and every decision we make originates from a deep understanding of the customers’ needs,” Carpenter said. “This customer-first focus is ingrained in the division’s culture and is what will propel Caterpillar Forest Products to even greater success.”

During the conference call Carpenter also commented on the recent announcement to close Caterpillar’s Minnesota facility next year and move production to its Georgia and Wisconsin facilities.

“It was strictly a business decision to consolidate our manufacturing,” he said. “We believe it will be good for the business and we are working to assist the more than100 employees affected.”