Cummins this week announced that Thad Ewald was named the company’s new vice president of corporate strategy and business development. The appointment, which was effective Aug. 1, means that he also became a corporate officer.

In 2008, Ewald was named executive director of Cummins’ newly created Growth Office at corporate headquarters in Columbus, Ind., with responsibility for seeking growth opportunities for the company. That role was expanded in January 2009 when he became executive director for corporate strategy and business development and a member of Cummins’ Operating Leadership Team.

“Cummins has set aggressive profitable growth targets and it is essential that we put in place high-quality strategies to meet these growth targets,” Linebarger said. “In this role, Thad will continue to use his exceptionally strong analytical skills, his knowledge of markets and competitors, and his strategic thinking skills to help the company and each business segment develop robust profitable growth strategies. Thad will also continue to lead the strategy function, ensuring that we have capable, trained people in the strategy group and throughout the company.”

Cummins Inc. designs, manufactures, distributes and services engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission solutions and electrical power generation systems.