Harsco Rail
Harsco Rail, a division of Enviri Corporation, has reported that Gary Lada will take over as President, effective May 5. He will succeed Claus Heuschmid, who is leaving the company on June 1.
Most recently, Lada led both the global Milton Roy and Air & Gas Solutions businesses at Ingersoll Rand. He has also served the rail industry, holding key roles focused on “operational excellence” at GE Transportation (now Wabtec), according to Harsco Rail, which provides track m/w and services from nine main locations in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, India, Brazil, China, and Australia. Lada holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Penn State University.
He will be based in Columbia, S.C., with the other members of the Harsco Rail leadership team, and become an Enviri Executive Leadership team member.
“Gary’s extensive experience in the rail industry and his proven track record of operational excellence make him the ideal leader to drive our division forward,” Enviri CEO Nick Grasberger said. “His leadership will be instrumental as we continue to focus on delivering exceptional value to our customers.”
“Claus has been a valued member of the Enviri leadership team and has made significant contributions to Harsco Rail,” Grasberger continued. “The company thanks Claus for his dedicated service and leadership and wishes him the best in his future endeavors.”
Harsco Rail also reported hiring Barry Learner as Chief Financial Officer and Mike Lafferty as Vice President of Operations. It noted that these leadership changes are “a key part of the company’s strategy to position Harsco Rail to capture profitable growth opportunities and generate returns above its cost of capital.”
Further Reading:
Caterpillar
After eight years as CEO and nearly 45 years of service, Caterpillar Chairman and CEO D. James Umpleby III will become Executive Chairman of the Board effective May 1. Chief Operating Officer Joseph E. Creed, a 28-year Caterpillar veteran, will succeed him as CEO and join the Board of Directors on May 1.
Umpleby assumed the CEO role on Jan. 1, 2017. In 2024, Caterpillar achieved record full-year adjusted profit per share, which increased more than sixfold during Umpleby’s tenure, according to Caterpillar, a manufacturer of diesel-electric locomotives (through Progress Rail), construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, and industrial gas turbines.
“I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Caterpillar’s dedicated global team of employees and dealers for my entire career,” Umpleby said. “As we celebrate our 100th anniversary, we honor those who came before us establishing a culture of excellence serving our customers. I have great confidence in my successor Joe Creed and the entire Executive Office to lead our global team as Caterpillar embarks upon our second century of helping our customers build a better, more sustainable world.”
Creed joined Caterpillar in 1997 and has held numerous positions of increasing responsibility across multiple divisions of Caterpillar. He was promoted to Chief Financial Officer for Caterpillar’s Energy & Transportation business segment in 2013, then to Vice President of Caterpillar’s Finance Services Division in 2017. Creed also served as interim Chief Financial Officer for Caterpillar in 2018. He then became Vice President of the Oil & Gas and Marine Division and the Electric Power Division. In 2021, Creed was elevated to Group President of Energy & Transportation. Effective November 1, 2023, he was appointed to the newly created position of Chief Operating Officer.
“I’m proud to work alongside our talented Caterpillar employees and dealers as we continue to support customers across our diverse businesses, from disaster recovery and building the world’s infrastructure to delivering critical minerals and reliable energy,” Creed said. “I look forward to leading this amazing team as we build upon Caterpillar’s legacy of excellence.”
According to Caterpillar, Debra L. Reed-Klages, who has served as a Director since June 2015, will remain on the Board as independent Presiding Director, a position she has held since June 2022.
“We are deeply grateful for Jim’s leadership and appreciate the outstanding results he achieved during his tenure,” Reed-Klages said. “His impact on our customers, dealers, shareholders and employees will continue for years to come.”
“Joe’s selection as CEO is the result of a multi-year succession planning process by the Board of Directors,” Reed-Klages continued. “He is a proven leader with significant experience in Caterpillar’s global businesses. We are confident Joe will position Caterpillar for continued future success.”
Further Reading:
- Progress Rail Signs Contracts With ENR to Modernize 100 Locomotives
- Progress Rail, Beacon Sign MSA to Continue Servicing Fleet of Locomotives in Europe
AITX
Jon Mudronja has joined AITX as Senior Vice President, Leasing–Western U.S. With nearly 20 years of industry experience, he has held leadership roles at CIT Rail, SMBC Rail Services, and Sumitomo Corporation.
Mudronja is “[k]nown for his operational excellence and commercial mindset,“ and “leads with curiosity, responsiveness, and a customer-first approach to developing tailored leasing strategies,” according to AITX, which not only provides shipping customers across North America and Europe with a diverse railcar lease fleet, but also offers railcar repair services, including mobile operations, onsite partnerships, and railcar storage.
Mudronja earned an MBA and Master of Science in business analytics from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Arts in Japanese from The Ohio State University.
“We strive to offer more than just railcars to our customers,” AITX Chief Commercial Officer Tina Beckberger said. “It’s our vision to be a valued strategic partner that provides asset expertise, exceptional service and innovative solutions. Jon brings incredible industry knowledge to the team, and through his leadership, will deliver meaningful results for our customers. We’re excited to have him on board as we continue delivering value.”
