After a 45-year career, Samuel R. Allen has elected to retire May 1 from his current position as chairman of the Deere & Co. Board of Directors. The Deere board has elected John C. May, the company's chief executive officer, to become chairman upon Allen's retirement. These actions are another step in the company's systematic process of leadership transition.

Allen has been chairman of the board of directors since 2010 and served as the company's chief executive officer from 2009 to 2019. May was named CEO in November 2019.

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