Caterpillar’s Board of Directors has elected Tom Pellette, currently a Caterpillar vice president and the president of Solar Turbines Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc., as group president with responsibility for Construction Industries, 
replacing Ed Rapp, who will now take over responsibility for Resource Industries.
“During his more than two decades with Solar, Tom has held senior leadership positions in Asia, Europe and North America, with half of his Caterpillar career spent outside of the United States. His demonstrated global perspective, drive for accountability and uncompromising product quality standards, combined with a strong customer focus will position him well to serve our construction business,” said Caterpillar Chairman and CEO Doug Oberhelman
Since joining Solar in 1993, Pellette has held a range of sales, engineering and product support positions with increasing responsibility, including significant experience in leadership positions in Europe, Asia and the U.S. Prior to joining Solar, Pellette worked for Tennessee Gas and Leybold Technologies.
In 2012, the Caterpillar Board of Directors named Pellette a Caterpillar vice president and the president of Solar Turbines. Pellette, a native of Los Alamos, N.M., graduated in 1985 from Rice University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.
Pellette will join the other members of the executive team based in the company’s headquarters in Peoria, Ill.
“Over the last several years, Caterpillar based an executive team member in Asia to intensify our focus on the region. We have three vice presidents in-region and a very strong senior local leadership team across Asia Pacific,” said Oberhelman. “They will continue to build on the great progress we have made in building out our business model in China, fully integrating Cat Japan and building on our market position in the region,” Oberhelman said.