USA 
United Kingdom
Caterpillar has named Christy Pambianchi as its new Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), succeeding Cheryl H. Johnson, who announced her retirement earlier this year.
Pambianchi joins the construction and heavy equipment manufacturer from Intel, where she served as Chief People Officer. Her departure from the semiconductor giant comes just as new Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan lays out a strategic plan to turn the company around. Intel has confirmed it will name her successor before the end of April.
“Christy is an experienced executive with strong credentials and a history of demonstrated success,” said Caterpillar Chairman and CEO Jim Umpleby. “Our people are a source of innovation and competitive advantage, and we must continue to attract and retain the best talent to serve our customers.”
During her tenure at Intel, Pambianchi was responsible for human resources, corporate real estate, corporate social responsibility, and the company’s transformation management office. She also held CHRO roles at Verizon and Corning, overseeing IT and HR functions.
Intel acknowledges Pambianchi’s contributions
Tan, who took over as Intel CEO just weeks ago, described Pambianchi as a “trusted adviser” in an internal email to employees. He praised her leadership in modernizing HR systems and navigating organizational change during a challenging period for the company.
“Christy’s leadership has been a source of strength,” Tan wrote. “She drove significant organizational change, modernized our HR systems, and navigated complex challenges with clarity and care.”
Pambianchi’s departure was announced the same week as Intel’s Vision 2025 event, where Tan outlined his plan to reinvigorate the company’s innovation efforts and strengthen its contract chip manufacturing business.
Caterpillar revises DEI policies amid leadership change
Pambianchi’s appointment comes as Caterpillar adjusts its approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The company has reportedly ended its participation in the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index ranking system and is revising its DEI policies.
An internal company memo informed employees that DEI training will now focus on “fostering high performance,” and new guidelines will require senior management approval for selecting external speakers. Caterpillar is also introducing new policies on external donations and sponsorships.
The policy shift follows conversations with social media activist Robby Starbuck, who publicly claimed credit for influencing the company’s DEI stance. Caterpillar has acknowledged discussions with Starbuck but maintains that it had already made decisions regarding its DEI strategy last year.
Pambianchi’s role as CHRO will be instrumental in shaping the company’s evolving workforce policies while navigating the broader landscape of corporate talent strategy.
