Deere & Company appointed R. Preston Feight to the company’s board of directors. Feight currently serves as chief executive officer of PACCAR Inc, a Fortune 500 company and a global technology leader in the design, manufacture, and customer support of high-quality light-, medium-, and heavy-duty trucks under the Kenworth, Peterbilt, and DAF nameplates.
Feight’s leadership at PACCAR has been characterized by pioneering advancements in engineering, manufacturing, aftermarket, and financial services capabilities. His emphasis on technology has positioned PACCAR as a strong company in advanced powertrains including diesel, electric, and hydrogen fuel cells, as well as in sophisticated driver assistance systems and truck connectivity.
“We’re pleased to welcome Preston to the Deere board, whose experience as CEO of another innovative industrial company aligns perfectly with our own transformation journey,” said John C. May, Deere’s chairman and CEO. “His leadership at PACCAR, which has a strong history of collaboration with Deere, along with his extensive business strategy and technology background, will be invaluable as we advance our Smart Industrial Operating Model.”
In his 26 years with PACCAR, Feight has held positions as director of product planning, chief engineer, assistant general manager of sales and marketing, and general manager of Kenworth Truck Company, as well as president of DAF Trucks. In 2018, he was appointed PACCAR executive vice president and became CEO in July 2019. Earlier in his career, Feight held engineering roles at AlliedSignal and Ford.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree 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 commercial truck driver.
With Feight’s appointment, the size of Deere’s board has increased to 12 members, 11 of whom are independent, or non-employee, directors.
