June leadership moves mark another active month for the industry

June saw a notable number of executive appointments across the power and equipment sectors, continuing the pace of leadership changes observed in May. Companies spanning defense, electrification, filtration and global manufacturing announced transitions that reflect evolving strategic priorities. Several of these appointments position leaders to support international growth, strengthen supply chain operations or accelerate innovation and sustainability initiatives. The following roundup highlights the month’s most significant personnel moves.

Allient Inc.: Greg Kraus

Greg Kraus

Allient Inc. has named Greg Kraus as director of Strategic Operations for its Allient Defense Solutions (ADS) business unit. In this role, Kraus will oversee project and operational excellence initiatives across ADS sites supporting defense market solutions. He will also serve as general manager of the company’s Watertown, N.Y., facility.

Kraus brings nearly 40 years of aerospace and defense experience, including time at Moog Inc., where he held leadership roles in business operations, engineering, supply chain and program management. He previously served as general manager of a $275 million space and defense business and led multi-site systems integration programs throughout the full project lifecycle.

At Allient, Kraus will act as a key link between business development and operations, helping to drive disciplined growth and high-performance execution.

Donaldson Company: Richard Lewis

Richard Lewis

Donaldson Company named Richard Lewis as chief operating officer, effective August 1. Lewis will oversee the company’s three core segments — Mobile Solutions, Industrial Solutions and Life Sciences — as well as its enterprise operations, supply chain and corporate technology functions.

A 23-year veteran of Donaldson, Lewis has held several senior leadership roles, including president of Mobile Solutions, senior vice president of Global Operations and, most recently, president of the Life Sciences segment, which he will retain until a successor is appointed. His appointment comes as the company sharpens its strategic execution and seeks to drive further value across a diverse global portfolio.

Everllence: Rainer Seidl

Rainer Seidl

Everllence, formerly MAN Energy Solutions, has named Rainer Seidl as its next chief financial officer, effective Sept. 1. Seidl will join the executive board and succeed Jürgen Klöpffer, who is retiring.

Seidl brings deep financial and international experience, having held senior finance roles across the Volkswagen Group, including executive vice president of finance at Volkswagen Group China and, most recently, head of corporate controlling at Volkswagen AG. He also previously served as head of Finance at Automobili Lamborghini and held key leadership roles at FAW-Volkswagen in China.

CEO Uwe Lauber said Seidl’s background in industrial transformation and strategic financial management will support Everllence as it continues expanding its role in global decarbonization.

Kubota: Todd Stucke and Alex Woods

Todd Stucke (left) and Alex Woods

Kubota Corp. announced a leadership transition involving two senior executives in North America. Effective July 1, Todd Stucke, who had been president of Kubota Tractor Corporation (KTC), will assume a new role in Japan as deputy general manager of both the Farm and Industrial Machinery Consolidated Division and the Customer Solutions Division. In this expanded capacity, he will focus on global business operations and advancing Kubota’s sales and support strategy worldwide. Stucke will retain his positions as chairman of KTC, senior vice president of Kubota North America (KNA) and a member of the KNA executive board.

Alex Woods has succeeded Stucke as president of KTC while continuing in his current role as head of Supply Chain Management for KNA. A 25-year veteran of Kubota, Woods has held leadership positions in parts, operations and product resources. Both appointments, the company said, reflect a strategic effort to align Kubota’s North American growth with its global brand ambitions.

Motiv Electric Trucks: Scott Zion

Scott Zion

Motiv Electric Trucks has named Scott Zion chief product and engineering officer, tasking him with overseeing the company’s full product roadmap, design and engineering performance. Zion brings more than 30 years of experience in vehicle engineering and electric vehicle development, with a background spanning leadership roles at Bollinger Motors, Xos Trucks, Hino Motors Manufacturing USA and Ford Motor Company.

At Motiv, Zion will lead product and engineering teams as the company scales production of its medium-duty electric trucks and buses for North American fleets. CEO Scott Griffith said Zion’s experience in electric commercial vehicle platforms and customer-driven product strategy makes him a strong fit for Motiv’s growth stage.

Oshkosh Corporation: Steve Nordlund

Steve Norlund

Oshkosh Corporation appointed Steve Nordlund as executive vice president and president of its newly renamed Transport segment, effective July 14. The move comes as the company rebrands its Defense segment to better reflect its expanding focus, not only on tactical wheeled vehicles for military customers but also on emerging commercial opportunities.

Nordlund brings more than 25 years of leadership experience across the aerospace, defense and mobility sectors. At Boeing, he led the Air Dominance division and spearheaded R&D for advanced military technologies. Oshkosh said his leadership style and strategic mindset make him well-suited to lead the Transport segment through its next phase of growth.

Volvo Group: Jens Holtinger and Lars Stenqvist

Jens Holtinger

Volvo Group has announced a leadership transition at the top of its technology organization. Jens Holtinger will become Group chief technology officer and join the executive board effective Sept. 1, succeeding Lars Stenqvist, who is stepping down after nine years in the role. Stenqvist will remain with the company as a senior leader.

Holtinger brings more than 25 years of experience within Volvo Group, including senior roles in truck manufacturing and operations across Europe and Brazil. He currently serves as executive vice president of Group Trucks Operations and is a member of the executive board.

Volvo Group President and CEO Martin Lundstedt praised Stenqvist’s contributions to sustainable transport innovation and called Holtinger’s appointment a continuation of that strategic vision.

Yanmar Compact Equipment: Ryu Kudo

Ryu Kudo

Yanmar Compact Equipment has appointed Ryu Kudo as CEO, marking a leadership change aimed at accelerating the group’s global growth. Kudo, who joined Yanmar in 2019, will continue to serve as president and representative director of Yanmar Construction Equipment Co., Ltd. in Japan while assuming his new CEO responsibilities.

With decades of experience in the construction industry, Kudo is expected to bring strategic leadership to the compact equipment division, which Kudo called the most globalized business within the group.

Editor’s Note: this story was written with the assistance of AI.