James M. Field, II (B.B.A. ’85, Accountancy) has enjoyed a successful career in the business industry, currently serving as President, Agriculture and Turf Division – Americas, Australia, and Global Harvesting & Turf Platforms at Deere & Company.
As a student at Western Michigan University, Mr. Field studied business and became a member of Beta Alpha Psi, the national honors fraternity for financial information professionals. Upon graduating from WMU, Mr. Field accepted a position at Deloitte & Touche.
“I hired Jim in 1985 to work for Deloitte & Touche – a major international accounting, tax, and consulting firm. Jim started in our Chicago office and quickly moved up the ranks in our organization. I worked with Jim serving several of our clients and he always impressed me with his capabilities, character, personality. Unfortunately, he impressed John Deere & Company as well,” recalled Rick Carlson when nominating Mr. Field for the Distinguished Alumni Award. Mr. Carlson is a 1971 WMU alumnus and 1993 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient.
In 1994, Mr. Field accepted the position of manager, consolidations at Deere & Co, one of today’s most highly admired businesses. Founded in 1837, the company has grown to become a major producer of agricultural, construction, and forestry machinery; diesel engines used in heavy equipment; and lawn care equipment. Annual revenues are in excess of $29 billion.
Throughout the years, Mr. Field has held various positions at Deere & Co. in accounting, treasury, business development, and planning; including chief financial officer of Deere’s former Timberjack Group; comptroller; vice president and comptroller; and president, Worldwide Commercial & Consumer Equipment Division. In 2009, he was promoted to senior vice president and chief financial officer. In 2012, he accepted his current position.
Today, Mr. Field is responsible for sales and marketing regions of U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the Latin American Region (South America, Central America, and Mexico) and product platform groups consisting of crop harvesting products and turf and utility products.
Mr. Field is a member of the Illinois CPA Society and the American Institute of CPAs. He also serves on the St. Ambrose University Board of Trustees and is very active in his community of Bettendorf, Iowa. Mr. Field and his wife, Jayne, have two children, Julia and Joe.