Form 8-K DEERE & CO For: Sep 12

 

UNITED STATES

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

 

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report: September 12, 2016

(Date of earliest event reported)

 

DEERE & COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

One John Deere Place

Moline, Illinois 61265

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

 

(309) 765-8000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

o  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

Item 5.02                                           Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

 

Retirement of Named Executive Officer

 

On September 12, 2016, Mr. Michael J. Mack, Jr., a Deere & Company named executive officer, announced his intention to retire from Deere & Company (“Company”) effective November 1, 2016.  Mr. Mack has served as Group President, John Deere Financial Services, Global Human Resources and Public Affairs since 2014.

 

These changes and related senior management changes for the Company are described in the text of a press release issued by the Company on September 12, 2016, attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(d) Exhibits

 

(99.1) Press release (Filed herewith)

 

2

 

Exhibit Index

 

Number and Description of Exhibit

 

(99.1) Press Release

 

3

 

Signature

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

	DEERE & COMPANY
	By:	/s/ Todd E. Davies
		Todd E. Davies
		Secretary
Dated:  September 12, 2016

 

4

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

NEWS RELEASE

 

Contact:

Ken Golden

Director, Global Public Relations

309-765-5678

 

Deere announces senior management changes

 

MOLINE, Illinois (September 12, 2016) – Deere & Company (NYSE: DE) today announced changes to its senior management team in response to the planned retirement of a member of the company’s leadership team later this year.

 

The following changes are effective November 1:

 

·                 Michael J. Mack, Jr., 59, will retire as Group President, John Deere Financial Services, Global Human Resources and Public Affairs.

 

·                 Marc A. Howze, 53, is appointed Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer.

 

·                 Cory J. Reed, 45, is appointed President, John Deere Financial.

 

“As a business leader, Mike Mack acted with conviction and commitment in a manner consistent with John Deere’s core values,” said Samuel R. Allen, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “His insightful thinking, unpretentious manner, and boundless level of energy have been an inspiration to all of us.”

 

Mack is retiring after more than 30 years of distinguished service. His wide-ranging career included assignments in information systems, finance, engineering, manufacturing, marketing and credit. He worked in four business divisions at Deere and was based in multiple U.S. cities as well as in Europe.

 

After serving in leadership positions of increasing responsibility, Mack was named Vice President and Treasurer in 2004, Senior Vice President and Chief

 

 

Financial Officer in 2006, and President of Worldwide Construction & Forestry in 2009. He moved to his present position in 2014.

 

As Chief Financial Officer, Mack’s leadership during the 2008 financial crisis allowed the company to maintain uninterrupted access to the credit markets.

 

As President of the Worldwide Construction & Forestry Division, Mack oversaw expansion of its product line, updating of the manufacturing capabilities, and broadening of its global operations.

 

Mack earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in mechanical engineering from Iowa State University and an MBA from the University of Chicago.

 

Howze is currently Vice President, Human Resources. His responsibilities will now expand to include human resources, labor relations, public affairs, communications, brand management, and security. This position will focus on improved integration of important enterprise functions to drive employee engagement and effective execution of the John Deere Strategy.

 

Howze joined Deere in 2001 and served in a number of positions in Deere’s legal department, including Associate General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. He later held positions in marketing, business development, and as a factory manager. Howze holds undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Duke University.

 

Reed is currently Senior Vice President in the Worldwide Agriculture & Turf Division with responsibility for the Intelligent Solutions Group. He has been instrumental in developing and implementing Deere’s precision agriculture strategy.

 

Reed joined Deere in 1998 and has held a variety of marketing and sales positions including marketing manager for large tractors, regional sales and marketing for John Deere International in Switzerland.  He later became Senior Vice President, Global Marketing Services for the Worldwide Agriculture & Turf Division before assuming his current role.  Reed holds an undergraduate degree in Finance from Miami (Ohio) University and a law degree from The Ohio State University.