John Deere has announced the appointment Deanna M. Kovar as the future president of its Agricultural Machinery business, effective November 1st, 2023 - a move that they describe as part of its long-term succession plan.
Deanna M. Kovar
Kovar will oversee Regions 1 (Africa, Middle East and Asia) and 2 (Europe and CIS), the presidency for the Agricultural Equipment business, and the Turf businesses. She previously led the Precision Agriculture business unit.
The company says Kovar will spend the remainder of this fiscal year familiarising herself with the new role in addition to her existing responsibilities.
As of November 1st, she will then be given full responsibility for this post. On that date, Markwart von Pentz will assume an advisory role to CEO John C. May before his retirement in 2024.
von Pentz said, “I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished with John Deere in Europe, Africa and Asia over the past years. Now is a perfect moment to pass on the baton and I can think of no better successor than Deanna."
Von Pentz has been one of two global presidents of the Agricultural Machinery business since 2007. In his long period as a board member Deere say he has played a major role in shaping and strengthening the company's position and economic power, particularly in South America, Europe and Asia, over a period of 16 years. Von Pentz also set in motion the company's realignment toward the digitisation of agriculture.
It is precisely in this digitalisation of agriculture that the manufacturer says Kovar is a proven expert. In her previous position, she was responsible for the area of Precision Agriculture, and was instrumental in the company's transformation into a 'Smart Industrial Company' and in the introduction of the [John Deere Production Systems'.
Kovar said, “For me, it was exciting to observe Mark's early commitment to digitalisation and our common goal was always to meet the complex and digital demands of farmers."
In the transition phase to the new position as Head of Public Europe, she will be trained by von Pentz in the Small and Medium-Sized Agricultural Machinery and Turf divisions.
