Terex Corporation (NYSE: TEX) announced on October 1, 2025 that it has appointed Srikanth Padmanabhan to its board of directors, with the appointment taking effect on December 1, 2025. Padmanabhan, who recently retired from a 34-year career at Cummins, Inc., most recently as Executive Vice President & President – Operations, brings deep global operational and engineering capabilities to Terex’s governance.
His long tenure at Cummins saw him lead multiple business units including the Engine Business, Power Generation, Components, and global operations in markets including India, the U.S., Mexico, and the U.K.In his new role with Terex, Padmanabhan will serve as an independent director under New York Stock Exchange and Terex governance guidelines.
Terex’s chairman, David A. Sachs, welcomed the new member, noting that Padmanabhan’s “insights and perspectives will complement the experience of our current board.”Padmanabhan also currently serves on the board of Leggett & Platt Incorporated.
Padmanabhan’s academic credentials are notable: he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Trichy (India), a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Iowa State University, and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.
This is a meaningful board appointment both in corporate governance and representation. Padmanabhan’s path-rooted in engineering, global operations, and multi-market leadership – mirrors the kind of technical and strategic experience that is increasingly valued in boards overseeing industrial and infrastructure companies. His presence adds to the representation of Indian American executives in U.S. corporate boards, especially in sectors like heavy machinery and industrial equipment where South Asian visibility remains relatively lower.
For Terex, which designs and builds machinery for materials processing, waste/recycling, utilities, and construction sectors, having a board member with deep operations experience in power, engines, and components aligns well with its product and service lines. Padmanabhan’s cross-industry, cross-region experience could help strengthen Terex’s long-term strategy, risk management, and innovation planning.
His appointment also underscores how engineers and technically trained leaders from immigrant backgrounds continue to shape the highest levels of American corporate leadership. For students and early-career professionals in mechanical and industrial engineering, this is another signal that technical depth plus leadership and global exposure can lead to board-level roles.
Given that the appointment was just announced today and is already filed in Terex’s Form 8-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, it meets the recency and official status criteria for a fresh Spotlight article.
Key Takeaways About Srikanth Padmanabhan
- Slated to join Terex Corporation’s Board of Directors effective December 1, 2025.
- Retired after a 34-year career at Cummins, with leadership roles across engines, power generation, components, and global operations.
- Serves as an independent director and currently sits on the board of Leggett & Platt.
- Educational credentials include a Mechanical Engineering degree from NIT Trichy, a PhD from Iowa State, and Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program.
- His operational and engineering expertise aligns strongly with Terex’s industrial equipment business, bolstering board capabilities in areas of manufacturing, power systems, and global execution.
