Caterpillar’s board of directors elected Denise Johnson, currently vice president with responsibility for the Material Handling & Underground Division, as group president of Resource Industries. The appointment follows the recently announced retirement of group president Ed Rapp.
Johnson joined Caterpillar in 2011 as general manager of its Specialty Products business unit where she was responsible for nearly 20 facilities around the world. She came to Caterpillar after a 22-year career with General Motors, where she worked in product management and operations in the United States, Canada and Brazil. A year later she was elected vice president of the Diversified Products Division with responsibility for industries including forestry, paving and on-highway trucks. In 2013 she became vice president of the Integrated Manufacturing Operations Division overseeing major operations in Caterpillar’s largest division at that time.
“Denise leads one of the largest and most complex businesses in the company,” said Caterpillar chairman and CEO Doug Oberhelman. “Her division makes products primarily for the mining, waste and construction industries and employs about 8,000 people in 14 locations spanning four continents. She has successfully managed costs during the mining downturn and had been deeply involved in restructuring within Resource Industries, all while gaining market position for multiple products in her portfolio. Denise has accomplished these business results while also delivering outstanding safety and quality metrics.”
Oberhelman added that Johnson has strengthened relationships with key mining customers and served as a strong role model to recruit more female engineers.
Johnson’s move is effective April 1.
