Samuel R. Allen, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Deere & Company has decided to retire on 1st May 2020. Allen has held this position since February 2010. Previously, he had the additional role of Chief Executive Officer, a position held until November 2019.
In earlier roles, Allen was elected President and Chief Executive Officer in August 2009 and after that was appointed as the President and Chief Operating Officer and a member of the board of directors.
He has worked as the President of the Worldwide Construction & Forestry Division, a job that included responsibility for John Deere Power Systems. Allen also served in Deere's Worldwide Agricultural Division, leading operations in China, Australia, Latin America and East Asia. Previously, he was responsible for Deere's intelligent equipment technologies unit & for advanced technology & engineering. He also led labor relations, human resources and the company's financial-services organization. Allen, who joined Deere in 1975, worked as a senior officer from 2001 to 2019.
He was appointed to Whirlpool Corporation's board of directors in June 2010 and at present serves as Presiding Director. Allen became a member of the Dow Inc. board of directors in August 2019.
The Deere board has now selected John C. May, chief executive officer of the company to take charge after Allen's retirement.
