Caterpillar Announces Officer Retirement

With more than 32 years of service, Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, Ill., Vice President Rod L. Bussell has elected to retire, effective May 1, 2007.

Bussell came to Caterpillar in 1974 as a systems analyst and later moved to the track loader plant in Davenport, Iowa, as a product engineer. After working in the operations and quality areas in the Davenport plant, he moved to Joliet, Ill., where he had a variety of assignments in quality, operations, maintenance and materials before becoming quality control manager at that facility in 1986.

Bussell then moved to Sao Paulo, Brazil, as technical services manager for both Sao Paulo and the Piracicaba plants. In 1989, Bussell became manufacturing manager of the Sao Paulo plant, and two years later, he moved back to Joliet as fabrications manager.

Bussell became manager of the transmissions business unit in 1992, and in 1998, he became general manager of the Large Engine Center in Lafayette. In 2001, Bussell was appointed vice president of the Mining & Construction Equipment Division (M&CE) in Decatur. Volume more than doubled during Bussell’s tenure at M&CE.

“Rod has had a dramatic impact on our company's success, and the entire Caterpillar family wishes him and his wife, Jane, a long, healthy and happy retirement,” says Caterpillar Group President Gerry Shaheen. “We’re pleased that they plan to continue to reside in the Decatur area and enjoy their sons Craig and Eric and daughter-in-law Nancy.”