OSHKOSH, Wis. — Oshkosh Corp. has announced changes to its executive leadership as part of a long-range succession plan intended to continue the company’s strong growth and business-building initiatives.
As part of the succession plan, Robert Bohn, chairman and CEO, has decided to retire, effective Dec. 31. The Oshkosh board has elected Charles Szews to the position of CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2011. Szews will serve in a dual role as president and CEO. He has been with the company since 1996 and is currently Oshkosh Corp. president and COO.
Bohn, who has served as CEO for 13 years and chairman for 10 years, will remain on the company’s board of directors until the annual shareholders meeting, Feb. 1, 2011. At that time, he will be succeeded as chairman by current board member Richard Donnelly, who has served on the board since 2001.
Under Bohn’s leadership, the company notes that Oshkosh Corp. has been transformed from a $400 million Midwest company into a multi-billion dollar international corporation and a Fortune 350 company. Upon joining the company in 1992, Bohn introduced multiple-product manufacturing on a single production line to Oshkosh long before mainstream industry embraced it. He led the company to significantly expand its product portfolio and build leading positions in multiple markets. The company also noted that was instrumental in guiding the company successfully through the recent global economic downturn to its projected record-setting fiscal 2010 sales and earnings levels.
Future CEO Charlie Szews has been described as the company’s “champion” of new business development, mergers and acquisitions and long-term strategic initiatives. Szews joined Oshkosh in 1996 as CFO and has served as president and COO since 2007, when he also joined the board. The company says he has been a catalyst in building Oshkosh’s international footprint, global procurement supply chain and the Oshkosh Operating System.
Future Board Chairman Dick Donnelly will become chairman effective Feb. 1, 2011. He is a former General Motors executive and a former industrial partner in the automotive supply practice of a private equity firm.
“The Oshkosh Corp. Board of Directors would like to thank Bob Bohn for his many years of successful leadership, and we wish him well in retirement,” said Donnelly. “Bob is leaving Oshkosh Corp. in the very capable hands of Charlie Szews, who has been an integral part of the company’s success.”
For more information, visit the Oshkosh Corp. website.
