President’s retirement sets off leadership chain reaction at Cummins

Tony Satterthwaite succeeds Rich Freeland as No. 2 at engine maker

The retirement of Mike Freeland as president and chief operating officer at engine maker Cummins Inc. set off a chain reaction of executive moves.
Rich Freeland

Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) announced the retirement of President and Chief Operating Officer Rich Freeland on Wednesday, August 21, after a 40-year career at the engine maker where he started as a shift foreman in a parts distribution center.


Tony Satterthwaite, currently president of Cummins’ distribution business, succeeds Freeland as president and COO. Other executive appointments triggered by Freeland’s departure:

  • Components President Tracy Embree succeeds Satterthwaite as president of distribution.
  • Chief Technical Officer Jennifer Rumsey succeeds Embree as components president.
  • Jim Fier succeeds Rumsey as Chief Technical Officer.

All five moves are effective on October 15.

Tony Satterthwaite

Cummins CEO Tom Linebarger praised Freeland, who also will leave the Cummins’ Board of Directors, for his humility as a leader. During his career, Freeland led three of five Cummins’ business segments. As COO, he has been responsible for all of Cummins’ global operations since 2014.

“He is one of the most effective leaders in Cummins’ history because of his ability to connect with customers, develop our employees, and his deep understanding of nearly every element of our business,” Linebarger said.

Cummins, celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2019, accounted for 35.8 percent of Class 8 engine sales in the first six months of 2019, followed by Daimler at 29.8 percent, according to WardsAuto.

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Alan Adler

Alan Adler is an award-winning journalist who worked for The Associated Press and the Detroit Free Press. He also spent two decades in domestic and international media relations and executive communications with General Motors.