DULUTH, GEORGIA, U.S.  — AGCO Corp. appointed Eric Hansotia to the newly created position of chief operating officer, effective Jan. 1, 2019.

He will assume responsibilities for all of AGCO’s regional commercial operations and its global product management, engineering, manufacturing and supply chain functions. He will continue to report to Martin Richenhagen, chairman, president and CEO of AGCO.

Hansotia was senior vice-president, global crop cycle and fuse connected services for AGCO.

“Eric’s leadership and broad industry knowledge make him uniquely qualified for this important new position,” Richenhagen said. “He has made significant contributions to AGCO’s success over the past five years particularly in the areas of our precision agriculture and harvesting product offerings. His strong strategic view on the future trends in global agriculture along with his operational experience will ensure AGCO continues to be successful in meeting the changing needs of our customers. I look forward to working closely with Eric on our initiatives to achieve growth and improved returns.”

Hansotia has extensive experience in the agricultural equipment industry in the areas of engineering, quality, advanced technology, manufacturing, product management, and global business leadership.

Prior to joining AGCO in 2013, Hansotia spent 20 years Deere & Company where he held a number of leadership positions including senior vice-president, global harvesting and vice-president of global crop care.