FACTBOX-Caterpillar's next CEO: A list of likely contenders

Published: 01 Sep 2009 08:41:12 PST

* Jim Owens, company's current CEO, turns 64 in early 2010

* Caterpillar mandates CEOs retire at 65

* Company has never tapped outsider for top job

PEORIA, Ill., Sept 1 - When Jim Owens, Caterpillar Inc's <CAT.N> current chairman and chief executive officer, steps down sometime over the next 16 months, his successor will almost certainly come from the ranks of the company's six group presidents.

Here is a list of those six executives, their current ages and their age when Jim Owens turns 65, Caterpillar's mandatory retirement age. Name Current Age Age when Owens turns 65 R.P. Lavin 57 58 S.L. Levenick 56 57 D.R. Oberhelman 56 57 E.J. Rapp 52 53 G.R. Vittecoq 61 62 S.H. Wunning 58 59