Caterpillar Inc. last week announced that Chris Schena will retire following more than 39 years of service to the company. Schena has been a Caterpillar vice president since 2002 and is currently vice president with responsibility for Europe and South America Operations.

“Since joining Caterpillar in Belgium in 1972, Chris has demonstrated outstanding business leadership skills with a proven record of delivering superior operational results while always maintaining a focus on developing people within his organizations,” said Rich Lavin, Caterpillar group president with responsibility for Construction Industries and Growth Markets. “During his distinguished career, Chris has provided leadership to Caterpillar business units and operations on three continents. He was a pioneer of lean manufacturing processes while leading Caterpillar’s operations in Brazil in the late 1990s and as a result, Caterpillar’s manufacturing operations in Brazil remain among the very best within the company.”

Schena’s retirement will be effective July 1, 2012.

The company’s board of directors appointed Mark Sweeney, currently operations director for Caterpillar’s Electric Power Division, a Caterpillar vice president. Sweeney’s appointment is effective Jan. 1, 2012, and he will replace Schena as vice president with responsibility for Europe and South America Operations. Schena and Sweeney will focus on the transition of responsibilities during the first half of 2012.

Steve Fisher, currently Caterpillar vice president with responsibility for the integration of Caterpillar and Bucyrus, has been named to replace Gary Stroup as vice president with responsibility for the Large Power Systems and Growth Markets Division. Stroup’s retirement was previously announced, and Fisher will assume his new duties effective Jan. 1, 2012.

“Steve has demonstrated outstanding foresight, energy and effectiveness in successfully leading the Bucyrus integration, which is by far, Caterpillar’s largest acquisition to date,” said Gerard Vittecoq, Caterpillar group president with responsibility for Energy and Power Systems.

Caterpillar Inc. is headquartered in Peoria, Ill.