DEERFIELD, IL — Caterpillar Inc. announces officer changes to further support execution of the enterprise strategy, including an emphasis on the company’s focus on services. All changes became effective on May 1.
Tom Bluth, who was most recently Vice President of the Innovation & Technology Development Division (ITDD), has transitioned to Vice President of Legal Aftermarket Support. This new role leads the legal teams responsible for intellectual property protection & enforcement as well as the legal purchasing center of excellence. Bluth joined the company as an Attorney 24 years ago, has extensive global product development and operations knowledge and has served as the company’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO) since 2017.

Bluth, a native of Davenport, Iowa, graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering, Northwestern University with a law degree and the University of Chicago with a Master of Business Administration.

Karl Weiss, who was most recently Vice President of the Material Handling & Underground Division (MH&U), is now succeeding Bluth as Vice President of ITDD and CTO for the company. Weiss has 30 years of experience in various roles around the world. He brings product development experience, a focus on customers and relationship building and overall process excellence to the CTO role. Weiss previously served as Vice President for the Earthmoving Division.

Weiss, a native of Hagerstown, Indiana, graduated from Purdue University in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural engineering. He received a Master of Business Administration from Northern Illinois University in 1999. He is also affiliated with the Metropolitan Airport Authority of Peoria, National FFA Organization Foundation, Society of Women Engineers and National Coal Council.
Caterpillar’s board of directors has also appointed Rob Hoenes, to succeed Weiss as Vice President of MH&U. Hoenes was most recently part of the Earthmoving Division, serving as Worldwide Product Manager for the medium track-type tractor product group.
Hoenes began his career as an Engineer and gained increasing responsibility in sales, product development and dealer and customer interface. He has a deep understanding of markets through commercial experiences in the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific. Hoenes earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Missouri-Columbia.