Deere adds senior leadership

Deere reported that Kellye Walker, former Eastman Chemical Company executive, will join its leadership team as senior vice president, chief legal officer and worldwide public affairs.

“Over the course of her career, Kellye has compiled an impressive record of experience and achievement,” said John May, chairman and CEO of Deere.

Walker has more than 25 years of senior executive experience, said the firm.

At Eastman, she held overall leadership responsibility for its legal organization, including oversight of corporate governance, compliance, intellectual property, as well as the company’s global health, safety and environment organizations.

Previously, she was executive vice president and chief legal officer for Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc., a global engineering and defense technology provider and America’s largest military shipbuilder.

In her new role, Walker will succeed Mary Jones, who announced her intention to retire later this year.

As the company’s chief legal officer Walker will have executive management responsibility for the global law and patent departments.

“Her exceptional strategic leadership and problem-solving skills, along with her proven ability to deliver results in a rapidly changing environment, will be of real benefit to our company,” said May.