Cummins Engine Business president Jim Kelly has revised his plans to retire and will stay on with Cummins Inc. to lead a number of cross-business strategic projects in 2010, the company has announced.
Kelly, who joined the company in 1976, has been president of the Engine Business unit since May 2005. He will step down from that role in March 2010. A successor has not been named.
“Jim has been instrumental in the Engine Business’ success and transformation over the last two decades, and for nearly five years he has effectively led the business during a period of both record growth and the most difficult recession in decades,” said Cummins president & COO Tom Linebarger. “Earlier this year, Jim expressed his desire to retire and for a smooth leadership transition in the Engine Business. I am extremely pleased that he has decided to remain with Cummins awhile longer in order to help us tackle some important enterprise-wide initiatives.”
Kelly guided Cummins Engine Business through a number of new initiatives during his tenure, including the creation of the 6.7-liter Turbo Diesel engine for the Dodge Ram pickup in 2007, which also met the 2010 EPA emissions guidelines prior to any other manufacturer. He also has led a doubling of the company’s heavy-duty truck engine market share in the past four years, Cummins said.
He has served as a Cummins vp since 1993 and had served as well as plant manager of the manufacturer’s Jamestown, NY, and Columbus, IN, facilities.
“Jim’s steady, thoughtful, results-oriented approach – combined with his competitiveness and deep knowledge of the diesel engine industry – has been especially valuable in keeping the Engine Business focused on remaining strong during the current downturn,” Linebarger added. “His understanding of the business now will to help us address a number of cross-business issues that are critical to our long-term success.”