Douglas R. Oberhelman is currently chief executive officer of Caterpillar Inc.
Mr. Oberhelman joined Caterpillar in 1975 in the corporate treasury department and has held a variety of positions, including senior finance representative based in South America for Caterpillar Americas Co.; region finance manager and district manager for the company’s North American Commercial Division; and managing director and vice general manager for strategic planning at Shin Caterpillar Mitsubishi Ltd. in Tokyo, Japan.
Mr. Oberhelman was elected vice president in 1995, serving as Caterpillar’s chief financial officer with administrative responsibility for the corporation’s accounting, information services, tax, treasury, investor relations and marketing support services areas from 1995 to November 1998. In 1998, he became vice president with responsibility for the Engine Products Division, including the market development, strategic planning, supplier management, electric power generation and worldwide marketing and administration for Caterpillar’s engine business.
Mr. Oberhelman was elected group president and a member of Caterpillar’s executive office in 2002. He has had responsibility for the company’s Asia Pacific region as well as Cat’s financial products and strategic support divisions. He also was responsible for the legal services, global purchasing and systems and processes divisions. He had responsibility for the human services and sustainable development functions as well as Caterpillar’s growing remanufacturing business. He also led the worldwide manufacturing, marketing and support of industrial and large power systems, industrial gas turbines and Progress Rail Services.
Mr. Oberhelman has a bachelor’s degree from Millikin University. He has served as chairman of the Board of Trustees for Millikin University and chairman of the Board of Directors for NC2 Global LLC, a Caterpillar and Navistar International joint venture. He is a former director for the boards of South Side Bank, Millikin University, Ameren and Easter Seals. He is also director of the boards of Caterpillar Inc., The Nature Conservancy – Illinois Chapter and Eli Lilly and Company, serving on the Audit and Finance Committees. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Manufacturers, the Manufacturing Institute and the Wetlands America Trust.
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