Stone becomes Deere’s forestry and construction president
2 July 2020The Deere & Co board of directors has elected John Stone to the position of president, worldwide construction and forestry and power systems, effective July 1.
In his role, Mr Stone will be responsible for the overall management and performance of the company's construction and forestry operations throughout the world and for the continued success of the Wirtgen organisation. He also will have responsibility for the engine, drivetrain, and electronic-component businesses.
Mr Stone, who joined the company in 2002, has managed the company's global utility tractor product line and headed corporate strategy. Since 2016, he has been senior vice-president, Intelligent Solutions Group. In that role, he has led the company's highly successful efforts to develop precision technologies that are bringing value and productivity to customers.
He was instrumental in the opening of John Deere Labs, a San Francisco-based research unit focused on breakthrough technologies such as machine learning and robotics. Also under his leadership, in 2017 Deere acquired Blue River Technology, a company that develops computer vision and machine learning capabilities for agriculture.
Mr Stone succeeds James M Field who will assume a new role as senior adviser, office of the chairman, effective July 1.
