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Cummins President Freeland to Retire, Succeeded by Satterthwaite

Cummins President and COO Rich Freeland is retiring after 40 years with the company, to be succeeded by Distribution President Tony Satterthwaite, the company announced Aug. 21.

August 21, 2019
Cummins President Freeland to Retire, Succeeded by Satterthwaite

Cummins President and COO Rich Freeland, left, will be succeeded by Tony Satterthwaite, right.

Photos courtesy Cummins

2 min to read


Cummins President and COO Rich Freeland is retiring after 40 years with the company, to be succeeded by Distribution President Tony Satterthwaite, the company announced Aug. 21.

The new appointments will be effective Oct. 15, as well as:

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  • Components President Tracy Embree will succeed Satterthwaite as distribution business president.

  • Chief Technical Officer Jennifer Rumsey will succeed Embree as components business president.

  • Jim Fier will succeed Rumsey as chief technical officer.

Tom Linebarger, Cummins chairman and CEO, called Freeland “one of the most effective leaders in Cummins history because of his ability to connect with customers, develop our employees, and his deep understanding of nearly every element of our business. Equally impressive to me is that Rich has accomplished these things in an unassuming, humble manner.”

Freeland joined Cummins in 1979 as a second shift foreman in the Parts Distribution Center in Columbus, Indiana, the day after his graduation from Purdue University. He spent his entire 40-year career with Cummins, successfully leading three of Cummins’ five business segments. He’s been responsible for all of Cummins’ global operations as chief operating officer since 2014, Freeland will also resign from the board of directors effective Oct. 15.

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Satterthwaite joined Cummins in 1988 and has held leadership positions throughout the company’s businesses and operations. He led Cummins Power Generation from 2008 to 2015 and has a strong reputation for understanding the details of Cummins’ business at all levels, according to the company announcement.

Embree has led the Components Business for five years, bringing the business to record sales and profitability. Under her leadership, the component product lines expanded to include transmissions.

Rumsey has served in technical leadership roles since she joined Cummins in 2000. She has held roles in engineering leadership, new product program leadership, controls, aftertreatment technology, advanced engineering, and quality, and has been involved in some of the most important products and technologies that the company has developed over the last 19 years, according to Cummins.

Fier has been with Cummins for more than 30 years and is a highly accomplished engineering leader. In engine development, Fier is recognized as one of the most technically skilled and experienced engineers in the industry, Cummins says.

Cummins may be best known for diesel truck engines, but today it designs, manufactures, distributes and services a broad portfolio of power solutions. The company’s products range from diesel and natural gas engines to hybrid and electric platforms, as well as related technologies, including transmissions, battery systems, fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission solutions, and power generation systems.

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