D. James (Jim) Umpleby III is executive chairman of the board of directors of Caterpillar Inc.
He served as Caterpillar’s CEO beginning January 1, 2017, and was elected Chairman of the Board in 2018. Umpleby led the company as Chairman and CEO through April 30, 2025, before becoming executive chairman on May 1, 2025. Prior to becoming CEO, he led Caterpillar’s Energy & Transportation business segment as group president and previously served as president of Solar Turbines and vice president of Caterpillar.
As CEO, Umpleby led the development and execution of a new strategy for long-term profitable growth, creating significant shareholder value. In 2024, Caterpillar achieved record full-year adjusted profit per share, which increased more than sixfold during Umpleby’s tenure as CEO.
Umpleby graduated from the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. He completed an executive leadership program at the International Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland. He serves on the board of the Chevron Corporation and the Peterson Institute for International Economics. Jim is a trustee of Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, and he is a member of Business Roundtable, The Business Council and the National Petroleum Council.
