Cummins promotes Charlton to VP/Heavy Duty Engineering

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Cummins Inc. announced today, March 12, that it has promoted Steve Charlton, formerly executive director of Heavy Duty Engineering, to vice president of Heavy Duty Engineering. Cummins also announced that it has promoted Jeff Weikert, formerly executive director of MidRange Engineering, to vice president of MidRange Engineering.

Charlton, who has been with Cummins for 15 years, will report to Ed Pence, vice president and general manager for the company’s Heavy Duty Engine Business. “Steve’s leadership has enabled Cummins to move from ‘regulatory survival’ to using our emissions technology as a competitive advantage,” says Jim Kelly, Engine Business president for Cummins, based in Columbus, Ind. “Much of our increased market share in the North American heavy-duty business can be traced to Steve and his efforts on behalf of our successful ontime product launches in 2002 and 2007.”

Charlton, 55, also worked for GEC Diesels as a design/analysis engineer. He joined Cummins’ Advanced Engineering organization and worked on the early plans for the V-8 light-duty diesel engine. He became executive director of research in 1999 and was named executive director of advanced engineering in 2001. In 2004, he was appointed technical leader on the project to develop the heavy-duty engine products to meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2007 emissions standards. Charlton was promoted to his current role in 2006.

Weikert, an 18-year Cummins veteran, will report to Dave Crompton, vice president and general manager of Cummins’ MidRange Engine Business. “Jeff has served us well in a variety of important assignments, including as program leader in advanced engineering for our 2007 MidRange products, and we are pleased to have him in this vital leadership role,” Kelly says. “In addition, he brings a lot of enthusiasm and hands-on experience to this key engineering position, having worked as an auto technician for 10 years before attending college.”

Weikert, 54, joined Cummins in 1990 after working several years for Mack Truck. His first position was in combustion, performance and emission development. From 1994 to 1996, he led the mechanical development group, moving to the role of chief engineer of the B Series engine in 1997. From 2000 to 2002, he served as team project leader for the European Engine Alliance and from there was named program leader in advanced engineering for the 2007 products. He became program leader for the 2007 MidRange products in 2004 before accepting his current position in 2006.