Daimler Trucks North America announced that current Thomas Built Buses VP of Operations Caley Edgerly will become the school bus OEM’s new president and CEO beginning March 1. Current company president Kelley Platt was just named the new GM of Western Star trucks.
Platt will remain in her current role through the end of the month, at which time Edgerly will fully transition into his new role. A former Detroit Diesel quality control engineer, Edgerly joined Thomas in 2012. Daimler said he will lead Thomas through a $11.8-million upgrade to the Saf-T-Liner C2 plant in High Point, North Carolina to expand production, as well as the addition of 236 new jobs. Platt said in October that the investment would streamline the production process.
Platt has been employed at Daimler Trucks since 1989, joining Thomas Built Buses as its chief executive in 2010. She will assume her new role at the Western Star truck company on April 1, succeeding Michael Jackson who announced his retirement today.
“I’d like to take a moment to thank the people at Thomas Built Buses. The last five years have been truly special for me,” said Platt. “TBB will always be a place I hold dear. I have no doubt in your ability to keep the momentum going and continue to lead the industry. I know you’re in great hands with Caley.”
Edgerly, in turn, referenced the “solid foundation” built by Platt that included market share gains during the past two years.
“We are very well positioned as we head into our next century of operation as the market-leading school bus manufacturer,” he added. “Behind our great products are great people, and I am personally excited to see what successes our team will achieve going forward.”
