After nearly 20 years with Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT), Kim Hauer, vice president with responsibility for the Human Services Division (HSD) and Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), has elected to leave the company. Hauer has accepted a position as Senior Vice President Global Human Resources with privately held SC Johnson, a 130-year-old company that generates $10 billion in sales annually, employs 13,000 people globally and sells products in virtually every country around the world. In order to ensure a smooth transition, Hauer will remain at Caterpillar until November 1. Caterpillar will immediately launch a global search for Hauer’s replacement.
“Over the last six years as Caterpillar’s Chief Human Resources Officer, Kim has transformed Caterpillar’s global human resources organization into a highly collaborative, truly professional team that drives innovative human resources solutions for the business and our employees,” said Brad Halverson, Caterpillar Chief Financial Officer and group president with responsibility for Corporate Services. “Kim has also been instrumental in driving and enhancing a culture of diversity and inclusion across the company. We thank Kim for her years of service and wish her and her family success as she moves into this next phase of her professional career.”
Hauer started as an intern in assembly planning at the Lafayette, Indiana, engine manufacturing plant during her third year at Purdue University. She joined Caterpillar full time in 1997 as part of the company’s Human Resources (HR) Professional Development Program. She advanced through numerous positions with increasing responsibilities in the areas of human resources, labor relations and succession planning, including a role as a compensation and benefits manager for Caterpillar’s Logistics Division based in Belgium. Hauer also held the position of group and regional HR director for Caterpillar based in Geneva, Switzerland. In December 2010, the Caterpillar Board of Directors named Hauer CHRO and vice president with responsibility for HSD. She has a bachelor’s degree in management, with emphasis in HR, from Purdue University. In 2016, Hauer was honored by HRO Today Magazine as CHRO of the Year in the lifetime achievement category.
