Caterpillar Inc. last week announced that its board of directors appointed Kathryn Dickey Karol to the newly created position of vice president with responsibility for global government and corporate affairs. Karol brings more than 25 years of progressive, global experience in the field to Caterpillar. She is currently vice president of global government and corporate affairs for Amgen Inc., a position she has held since 2006. Previously, she was an executive director of government affairs for Eli Lilly & Co. She will join Caterpillar on Sept. 10, and will report to Jim Buda, Caterpillar executive vice president with responsibility for law and public policy.
“We are thrilled to have a government and corporate affairs professional with Kathryn’s depth and global experience joining Caterpillar in this newly created position,” Buda said. “As the global leader in our industry, and with a strong presence in every region of the world, it is more important than ever that Caterpillar effectively leverage our government and corporate affairs teams to support our global business.”
Karol will be based in Washington, D.C. and will have responsibility for strategy development and implementation for Caterpillar government affairs in the United States, as well as leading government affairs teams in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East and South America. In addition, Caterpillar’s Corporate Public Affairs organization will report to Karol, which includes corporate communications, the Caterpillar Visitors Center, media relations, social activities and the Caterpillar Foundation.
Headquartered in Peoria, Ill., Caterpillar is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives.
