In two months, Deere and Company's CEO John May will also become the new chair of the board. Today, the company announced Sam Allen will retire on May 1st after ten years as board chair, ending his 45-year career with John Deere.
The company hired Allen as an industrial engineer in 1975.
After serving in several leadership roles, in 2005, he became president of Deere’s construction and forestry division and its power systems businesses.
Allen became CEO in 2009. And new CEO John May praised Allen, giving him credit for leading the company to, "unmatched financial success which included nine of the ten highest-earning years in company history.”
Allen also established John Deere's new Intelligent Solutions Group in 2012 to advance precision agriculture and new technologies.
The board promoted May to CEO last November.
In his 23 years with Deere, the native of Maine has held several positions, including Chief Information Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and President of the agriculture and turf division.
He will succeed Allen as board chair on May 1st.
