Karen Battin, controller for Cummins’ Power Generation Business since 2005, has been promoted to vice president and controller for the company’s engine business, effective April 1. Battin — a certified public accountant who had more than 15 years experience in various accounting and finance roles prior to joining Cummins — replaces Pat Ward, who recently was named the company’s chief financial officer.
Battin joined Cummins in 1998 as leader of the corporate accounting policy function and in 2000 became director of corporate accounting and consolidation. In 2001, she moved into the role of executive director of investor relations, representing Cummins to the investment community during a difficult and challenging time for the company. In 2004, she assumed additional responsibility for corporate business analysis and planning, and in 2005, she was named controller of the power generation business.
“Karen’s financial expertise, along with the overall Cummins’ business and market knowledge she gained in her investor relations and power generation roles, provides her with the broad background needed for this position,” says Jim Kelly, engine business president for Columbus, Ind.-based Cummins. “As our business continues to grow both domestically and in markets around the world, having excellent financial processes in place is critical to our success. Karen has the skills to build on the work already done in these areas, and I am confident she will help further refine our global financial capabilities.”
Cummins also announced production of its 1 millionth engine with a ceremony that included company executives, employees, key customers and local, state and federal officials. The engine, a 15-liter ISX diesel engine that originally was ordered by Paccar’s Kenworth Truck division, will be kept on display at the company’s Jamestown Engine Plant. JEP, which was established in 1974, is the sole manufacturer of heavy-duty Cummins engines in North America, following the consolidation of the company’s heavy-duty engine production in 2002, and is one of the company’s largest manufacturing facilities.
