John May

John May
Nationality	American
Occupation	Business executive
Title	Chairman and CEO, Deere & Company
Known for	Leading Deere & Company (John Deere)

John May is an American business executive who serves as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Deere & Company, the multinational corporation known widely by its brand name John Deere. As the head of one of the world's largest and most recognized manufacturers of agricultural, construction, and forestry equipment, May oversees a global enterprise with operations spanning dozens of countries and a workforce of tens of thousands of employees. Under his leadership, Deere & Company has pursued strategic investments in technology, precision agriculture, and domestic manufacturing expansion, including the announcement of major new facilities in the United States. May's tenure at the helm of the company has coincided with a period of significant transformation in the agricultural equipment industry, as advanced automation, data analytics, and sustainability considerations have reshaped the sector's competitive landscape.

Career

Leadership at Deere & Company

John May serves as Chairman and CEO of Deere & Company, headquartered in Moline, Illinois. The company, commonly referred to as John Deere, is one of the most prominent manufacturers of agricultural machinery, heavy equipment, and related technologies in the world.

Under May's leadership, Deere & Company has continued to invest in expanding its manufacturing footprint within the United States. In 2025, the company announced a major expansion involving two new U.S. facilities. According to an official Deere & Company statement, the expansion was described as building on "Deere's and President Trump's Commitment to U.S. Manufacturing," with the company highlighting that the initiative would create new American jobs. One component of the announced expansion involved a campus in Kernersville, North Carolina. The announcement signaled the company's strategic commitment to domestic production capacity at a time of broader national discourse about reshoring manufacturing operations and supply chain resilience.

As CEO, May has been responsible for guiding the company through a period characterized by rapid technological change in the agricultural and heavy equipment sectors. Deere & Company has invested significantly in precision agriculture technologies, autonomous machinery, and data-driven farming solutions, positioning the company at the intersection of traditional manufacturing and modern technology.