Irving-based heavy equipment giant Caterpillar Inc. announced that Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel Suzette M. Long will retire on Dec. 31, after serving the company for 18 years.
Derek Owens, currently vice president and deputy general counsel, will assume the role of senior vice president and general counsel on July 1, the company said. He will become chief legal officer and general counsel effective Jan. 1.
“Suzette has been a trusted advisor, strategic business partner and an invaluable colleague to our Executive Office,” Caterpillar Chairman and CEO Jim Umpleby said in a statement. “She strengthened the legal function while supporting the execution of our strategy for profitable growth and helped lead Caterpillar through complex matters while reinforcing our commitment to help our customers build a better, more sustainable world. We have relied on Suzette’s exemplary leadership, advice and sound judgment over the years, and her contributions to Caterpillar went far beyond the Law, Security and Public Policy division.”
The company said that Owens joined Caterpillar in 2019 as associate general counsel, litigation & investigations, after 15 years of increasing responsibility at the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Department of Justice where he last served as a deputy chief.
At Caterpillar, Owens has been a team leader in a number of practice areas in the legal department, focusing on supporting the business goals and serving the customer.
Currently, Owens oversees and provides legal guidance for commercial and transactional matters for Services, Distribution & Digital, along with enterprise-wide internal investigations, and tax and litigation matters.
“We are fortunate to have a deep bench of talent at Caterpillar,” Umpleby said. “Derek brings a unique set of skills that will benefit our Law, Security and Public Policy team and the entire enterprise. On behalf of our leadership team and the board of directors, I wish Suzette all the best in her retirement and congratulate Derek on his new role.”
Catepillar had 2022 sales and revenues of $59.4 billion and is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives.
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