Macomb, IL – Western Illinois University is celebrating the professional milestone of alumnus Joe Creed, who will become the next CEO of Caterpillar Inc. on May 1.
Creed, a 1997 graduate of WIU’s accountancy program, has spent over two decades with Caterpillar, steadily advancing through the company’s ranks. He began as chief financial officer for the Energy and Transportation business segment in 2013 before stepping into several executive roles, including interim CFO in 2018 and vice president for the Oil & Gas and Marine and Electric Power Divisions.
According to the university’s announcement posted Wednesday, Creed was appointed group president of Energy & Transportation in 2021, and most recently, on Nov. 1, 2023, he assumed the newly created role of chief operating officer. He will officially take over the CEO position from Jim Umpleby next month.
“For 100 years, our incredible people have been the foundation of Caterpillar’s success,” Creed said in a company statement. “I’m proud to work alongside our talented Caterpillar employees and dealers as we continue to support customers across our diverse businesses, from disaster recovery and infrastructure to critical minerals and reliable energy.”
Western Illinois University encouraged the community to join in celebrating Creed’s accomplishments, highlighting his journey from a WIU student to the helm of one of America’s most iconic manufacturing companies.
Creed’s rise marks another notable alumni success story for the public university in Macomb, Illinois.
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