Cummins Inc.: Leadership and Supply Chain Excellence in Global Industrial Markets

Cummins Inc. has appointed four new vice presidents, effective March 1: Ricardo Roman, Michelle Probst, Gbile Adewunmi, and Matt McQueen. They join Ashwath Ram, who was appointed Vice President in January. 

Jennifer Rumsey, Chair and CEO of Cummins Inc., expressed confidence in the new leaders, citing their dedication to making a positive impact on the company, customers, and employees. She emphasized their expertise in their respective fields and their commitment to Cummins' culture and employee development. 

Ricardo Roman, now Vice President of Components Finance, has a track record of success spanning over 23 years at Cummins. He played a pivotal role in the integration of major acquisitions and has driven significant financial performance within the Components business unit. Roman's background includes leadership roles in finance across various Cummins divisions, complemented by academic achievements in economics and business administration. 

Michelle Probst, appointed Vice President of Leadership and Talent Development, has expanded her responsibilities to oversee Cummins' global talent development programs. She leads a team focused on fostering a culture of performance and development throughout the organization by implementing talent strategies and advising business leaders. 

Probst has been instrumental in fostering Cummins' leadership culture, serving as a leader and HR sponsor for numerous leadership initiatives. Under her guidance, the Building Success in You program, focusing on Cummins' leadership behaviors, achieved a significant milestone in 2023, with over 4,000 employees globally graduating since its inception. She is also dedicated to advancing Cummins' Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) strategy by integrating key themes into the Leadership Development framework. Additionally, she is currently evaluating and enhancing Cummins' performance management processes and systems. 

With nearly 14 years of HR leadership experience at Cummins, Probst has provided HR leadership and strategic insights for more than 10 Cummins functions and the Power Systems Business. Her extensive tenure has afforded her broad visibility and comprehension of the company, along with the relationships and trust necessary to evolve talent development processes. Before joining Cummins, Probst held various HR roles in the finance and banking sector and worked as a tax accountant prior to transitioning into HR. 

Gbile Adewunmi, now Vice President of Power Systems Industrial Markets, assumed leadership of the PSBU Industrial Markets in January 2023 as part of the Power Systems Business reorganization. In this capacity, he oversees a global strategy for Cummins' Defense, Marine, Mining, Oil & Gas, and Rail lines of business, as well as the PSBU Aftermarket segment. Adewunmi has been pivotal in guiding PSBU's balance between enhancing the core business and supporting customers' decarbonization initiatives. Known for his ability to foster strong relationships and drive alignment, Adewunmi is also passionate about cultivating diverse, inclusive, and high-performing teams. 

Adewunmi joined Cummins in 2012 and has held various roles, including Manager in the Corporate Strategy group and leadership positions in the New and ReCon Parts organization. He has also served in regional leadership roles in South Africa and Ghana. 

Matt McQueen, now Vice President of EBU Supply Chain, assumed leadership of Cummins' Engine Business Supply Chain in 2022 amid significant challenges posed by the pandemic. Leveraging his extensive Cummins experience and supply chain expertise, McQueen led his team in maintaining customer delivery, enhancing employee health and safety, and exceeding inventory reduction targets in 2023. He has also played a crucial role in positioning EBU plants for the future to support fuel-agnostic engine platforms and maintain the delivery of over 1.3 million advanced engines annually. 

Throughout McQueen’s extensive tenure of nearly 28 years at Cummins, he has held numerous leadership roles in manufacturing, quality, and supply chain, earning recognition as one of the company's most reliable supply chain advisors. Joining the EBU Leadership Team in 2017, McQueen has contributed significantly to various aspects of the EBU business, including leading the Pickup Business and Quality organizations, and serving twice as supply chain leader. Prior to this, he gained experience in supply chain roles across Power Systems, Components, and Emissions Solutions businesses. Additionally, McQueen has served as plant manager at three Cummins plants, including the Jamestown Engine Plant, Columbus Fuel Systems Plant, and Juarez Fuel Systems Plant. 

Ashwath Ram, Vice President of Supply Chain and India ABO Leader, brings over 20 years of experience at Cummins, having worked closely with all five of the company’s business units. Known for his strong leadership skills and entrepreneurial mindset, Ram's expanded role entails leading the global Supply Chain function. He leverages his track record of success in navigating complex business environments and driving organizational change. Ram oversees strategic direction and operations for integrated supply chain functions globally, encompassing Procurement, Manufacturing, Planning, New and ReCon Parts, and Health, Safety, and Environment. 

For the past four years, Ram has concurrently served as Managing Director of Tata Cummins and Cummins India ABO Leader, maintaining accountability for managing and expanding the India business. Under his leadership, the India ABO has experienced remarkable growth with record sales and the highest compound annual growth rate and year-over-year growth in its history. Ram is responsible for the performance of Cummins' five business units in India, including Engine, Power Generation, Distribution, Components, and Accelera by Cummins. He has cultivated a high-performance leadership team and fostered a culture of performance within the ABO. 

Ram's career trajectory has taken him from India to the United States and back to Pune, India, where he currently resides. Before rejoining Cummins in 2007, he ventured into entrepreneurship, establishing and managing several businesses in manufacturing, IT, consulting, and design services. During his tenure at Cummins, Ram has held various leadership positions in Power Generation, the Tata Cummins Joint Venture, and the Industrial Engine business.