Oshkosh, Wisconsin – Charles L. (Charlie) Szews, CEO of Oshkosh Corp., has decided to retire, effective December 31, 2015. Consistent with the company’s long-range succession plan, the board of directors elected Wilson R. Jones as CEO, effective January 1, 2016. Jones has been with the company since 2005 and is currently president and chief operating officer.
Szews, who has served as CEO for five years, will also retire from the board of directors on which he has served since 2007. He joined Oshkosh in 1996 as chief financial officer and served as president and COO from 2007 to 2011, when he was appointed CEO. Jones will replace Szews on the board.
“Through the last five years (Szews) led the company to successfully overcome significant U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) spending reductions and the lingering effects of the Great Recession,” says Richard M. Donnelly, chairman of the Oshkosh board. “During his career, Charlie led our company through numerous historical milestones and contributed to the company’s growth from $400 million in sales in 1996 to more than $6 billion expected in 2015. Most recently, he and the entire Oshkosh team worked fervently to win the revolutionary DoD Joint Light Tactical Vehicle contract.”
Donnelly notes that company management and the board have been preparing for the change in leadership for several years.
Szews says, “I have been honored to lead this great company and our employees in providing vehicles and equipment that make a difference in our communities by saving lives and protecting people and property at work around the world. It has been a tremendous experience, and I have confidence that Wilson Jones will lead this company to higher levels of shareholder performance and customer satisfaction.”
Source: Oshkosh Corp.