Caterpillar announces officer retirement, appoints new vice president

Peoria, Ill.-based Caterpillar Inc., a manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives, has announced the retirement of vice president Jim Johnson and the appointment of a new Vice President, Raymond Chan.

Johnson, who has been with the company for more than 37 years, will retire Feb. 1, 2015. He joined the company as part of the engineering training program and advanced to hold a series of service and sales positions, then marketing and product positions in the U.S., U.K., and Japan. He became the managing director of sales and marketing for Shin Caterpillar Mitsubishi in 2004, then led the global rental and used equipment team, Caterpillar Used Equipment Services Inc. and the Lifecycle Products and Services department before being named a vice president in 2012 responsible for the Asia Pacific Distribution Services Division (APDSD).

Chan will replace Johnson. He joined the company in 1986 after working in the energy industry in Hong Kong, China, France, and Malaysia. His first nine years at Caterpillar were spent working in the engine business at Cat China Ltd. in Hong Kong. In 2005 Chan became the China distribution manager within APDSD, based in Beijing. Since 2008 he has had the expanded responsibility of regional manager with APDSD, remaining in Beijing. He has a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and manufacturing from the University of Hong Kong. He will relocate to Singapore to assume his new position Jan. 1, 2015.