Caterpillar Rejigs Top Deck

Caterpillar Inc. today announced the following officer changes effective January 1, 2015:

 * Julie Lagacy will become the company’s Chief Information Officer and vice president with responsibility for the Global Information Services Division;
 * Mike DeWalt will become vice president with responsibility for the Finance Services Division; and
 * Doug Hoerr has been appointed as vice president with responsibility for the Strategic Services Division.

Julie Lagacy

Caterpillar’s Board of Directors has appointed Julie Lagacy, a 26-year veteran of the company and currently vice president with responsibility for the Finance Services Division (FSD), as Chief Information Officer (CIO) and vice president with responsibility for the Global Information Services Division (GIS). In addition to leading FSD, earlier this year Lagacy assumed leadership of GIS following the departure of the former Chief Information Officer. She will continue to report to Brad Halverson, group president and Chief Financial Officer, and will also retain the Business Systems Transformation (BST) group.

“Julie has done a tremendous job managing two key roles within the company since June, demonstrating her leadership ability,” said Halverson. “In addition to her strong financial acumen, strategic management style and her commitment to leading with integrity, she understands how to partner with our businesses throughout the company, which is important in a complex, global business like ours. She will build on the foundation she and her team have laid to carry forward the mission of transforming Caterpillar’s information technology into a real competitive advantage.”

After joining Caterpillar in 1988 as a pricing analyst, Lagacy held a number of pricing positions with increasing responsibilities and gained leadership experience across multiple functions, including positions as a product manager, commercial manager and human resources manager. She was the CFO of the mining business and became vice president with responsibility for FSD in 2013. Julie earned dual bachelor’s degrees in economics and management from Illinois State University and has a master’s degree in business administration from Bradley University. She is also a certified management accountant.

Mike DeWalt

Following the announcement that Lagacy will assume the GIS and CIO role, Caterpillar’s Board of Directors appointed Mike DeWalt as vice president with responsibility for the Finance Services Division (FSD). DeWalt, whose career has spanned nearly 34 years with Caterpillar, was previously the vice president with responsibility for the Strategic Services Division. Under his leadership, FSD will include Corporate Accounting, Corporate Tax, Corporate Treasury and the Investor Relations group. Mike will continue to report to Brad Halverson, group president and Chief Financial Officer.

“Mike has a deep background in Caterpillar’s accounting, finance and M&A functions. He worked on several key acquisitions and was the business manager of two of our large European businesses. He was the first leader of our Strategic Investments Group, was the voice of Caterpillar to investors as the director of Investor Relations, was the corporate controller and, most recently, was the vice president of our Strategic Services Division. This wealth of experience and deep understanding of our business make him a great fit to lead FSD,” said Halverson.

DeWalt joined Caterpillar in 1981 as an accountant followed by a series of positions with increasing responsibilities in accounting and finance areas. From 1996-2001, DeWalt was the senior finance leader for F.G. Wilson in Northern Ireland and Perkins Engine Company in Peterborough, UK – both wholly owned subsidiaries of Caterpillar. Following those assignments, he was named director of Strategic Investments, leading Caterpillar’s corporate mergers and acquisitions group, and was the director of Investor Relations from 2005-2012. In 2012, DeWalt became the corporate controller, and in 2013, he was appointed a vice president with responsibility for the Strategic Services Division. DeWalt has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Illinois State University.

Doug Hoerr

Following DeWalt’s move to FSD, Caterpillar’s Board of Directors has appointed Doug Hoerr as a new vice president with responsibility for the Strategic Services Division (SSD), reporting to Halverson. Under Hoerr’s leadership, SSD will include Strategic Planning, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Economics, Business Risk Management, Revenue Management and Competitive Analysis.

“Doug is a strong leader and brings broad financial background to the Strategic Services Division. In addition to his background as a business manager in several of our businesses, Doug has worked on several important acquisitions and divestitures. He has a reputation at Caterpillar of working with business partners across the company to get things done and his experience with our Customer & Dealer organizations will add an important dimension for the Strategic Services Division,” said Halverson. “Doug will be leading the strategic planning process, including growth strategies and M&A. His background of financial leadership, collaboration on joint venture projects and experience in startup manufacturing operations will all serve him well in his new role.”

Hoerr began his 21-year career with Caterpillar in accounting. He held several accounting and business analysis roles throughout the company, including senior leadership positions in Caterpillar’s engines business. He served as the senior business manager for Large Power Systems & Growth Markets, and in 2012, was named CFO for the Customer & Dealer Support group. Hoerr holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Illinois. He is also a certified public accountant.