Deere & Company has announced the appointment of R. Preston Feight to its board of directors. Feight is the CEO of PACCAR Inc (Nasdaq: PCAR), a Fortune 500 company known for its global leadership in designing, manufacturing, and supporting high-quality trucks under brands such as Kenworth, Peterbilt, and DAF.
Under Feight’s leadership, PACCAR has excelled in engineering and manufacturing advancements and expanded its aftermarket and financial services capabilities. His focus on cutting-edge technology has helped the company become a leader in advanced powertrains, including diesel, electric, and hydrogen fuel cell systems, as well as in truck connectivity and sophisticated driver assistance features.
“Preston is an accomplished leader, and we are delighted to welcome him to the Deere board,” said John C. May, Deere’s chairman and CEO. “His expertise as CEO of an innovative industrial company aligns well with Deere’s ongoing transformation. His experience in business strategy and technology, combined with PACCAR’s history of collaboration with Deere, will be instrumental as we continue to advance our Smart Industrial Operating Model.”
Feight has been with PACCAR for 26 years, holding roles such as director of product planning, chief engineer, assistant general manager of sales and marketing, and general manager of Kenworth Truck Company. He also served as president of DAF Trucks before becoming PACCAR’s executive vice president in 2018 and CEO in July 2019. His earlier experience includes engineering positions at AlliedSignal and Ford.
Feight earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Northern Arizona University and a Master of Science in Engineering Management from the University of Colorado. He is a licensed professional engineer and holds a commercial truck driver license.
With this appointment, Deere’s board has expanded to 12 members, 11 of whom are independent directors.
