Cummins’ board of directors this week unanimously elected company President and CEO Jennifer Rumsey to the position of board chair, replacing Tom Linebarger, the former CEO who is resigning his two current positions as executive chairman and chairman of the board.
Rumsey was first appointed to the Cummins board of directors in February 2022 and has served as president and CEO of the company since August 2022. She has held numerous roles within the company during her more than two decades with Cummins, including chief technical officer, president of the components business and chief operating officer. The combined roles of chair and CEO will position Rumsey to continue leading the company into the future, leveraging her technical expertise with a deep understanding of the company and how it will lead its global customers through the energy transition the world is going through.
“Jennifer’s appointment as chair comes at a pivotal time for Cummins and the entire industry,” said Linebarger. “Her strategic vision for Cummins, centered on delivering solutions that meet our customers’ needs while reducing our impact on the environment, will help lead our company in the transition to a decarbonized future. On a personal note, I am filled with immense pride and gratitude for the privilege of being part of this remarkable company for the past 30 years. I am delighted to pass this role to Jennifer and firmly believe that she is the ideal leader to guide Cummins at this important time.”
Linebarger served as Cummins’ chairman and CEO from 2012 to 2022 and as executive chairman of the company for the past year. During his 10-year tenure, the company grew its revenue from $17.3 billion to a record $28.1 billion last year. Linebarger spearheaded the evolution of the company on projects such as Accelera by Cummins, the company’s zero-emissions solutions business segment, and the broadening of its product portfolio through notable mergers and acquisitions including the largest-ever in the Cummins’ history with the acquisition of Meritor.
Said Rumsey: “I am deeply humbled to assume the role of chair. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Tom who has been an extraordinary leader for this company and an invaluable colleague and mentor to me. His leadership of this company has shaped my journey and approach to leadership at Cummins and helped position us for a bright future. As we look ahead, we will continue to create innovative solutions that effectively address our customers’ needs while making a positive impact on the communities we serve. When I became CEO one year ago, I said that we would continue to put people at the center of everything we do, and I am proud to say that our dedicated employees continue to work tirelessly to ensure we remain on course for our ambitious goals as a company. At the top of that list is our commitment to Destination Zero, our strategy to achieve a zero-emissions future, power our customers’ success, grow our business and deliver strong returns to our investors.”