Oshkosh, Wi., USA - September 18, 2015, Oshkosh, Wi., USA - Oshkosh Corporation, a manufacturer of specialty vehicles and vehicle bodies, announces Charles L. Szews, CEO, has decided to retire, effective December 31, 2015.
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Mr. Szews, who has served as CEO for five years, will also retire from the Company’s Board of Directors on which he has served since 2007.
He joined Oshkosh in 1996 as chief financial officer and served as president and COO from 2007 to 2011, when he was appointed CEO.
Consistent with the Company’s long-range succession plan, the Oshkosh Corporation Board of Directors elected Wilson R. Jones as chief executive officer, effective January 1, 2016.
Mr. Jones has been with the Company since 2005 and is currently Oshkosh Corporation president and chief operating officer, a position he was appointed to in August 2012.
Most recently, Mr. Jones served as executive vice president and president, Access Equipment where he drove domestic and international growth, customer experiences with access products and strategically developed the segment’s global position.
Prior to joining the Access Equipment segment, Mr. Jones was executive vice president and president, Fire & Emergency, a position which he was promoted to in September 2008.
Mr. Jones was also the president of Pierce Manufacturing Inc.; he was appointed to this position in July 2007.
In addition, Mr. Jones has served as vice president of sales and marketing for the Fire & Emergency segment.
Mr. Jones joined Oshkosh Corporation in 2005, as the vice president and general manager of the Airport Products Business Unit, where he led a strategic international initiative for the company.
Mr. Jones has been in specialty vehicle manufacturing for more than 25 years.
He serves on the Board of Directors for Thor Industries, Inc., one of the world’s largest manufacturers of recreational vehicles and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers.
He has also served on the Board of Directors for the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers’ Association and the American Ambulance Association. ■