2007 CHICAGO UNITED CHICAGO BRIDGE AWARD RECIPIENT

"Expressing John Deere's fundamental belief in global business and diversity, we strive to maintain an appealing culture that promotes teamwork, cooperation, productivity, acceptance and mutual respect for all."

Robert W. Lane
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Deere & Company

Robert W. Lane is chairman and chief executive officer of Deere & Company, the world’s
leading provider of advanced products and services for agriculture and forestry and a
major provider of advanced products and services for construction, lawn and turf care,
landscaping and irrigation. Under his leadership, Deere & Company’s sales have grown
worldwide due to increases in equipment and agricultural equipment sales and improvements
in commercial and consumer equipment sales.

Lane joined John Deere in 1982, initially managing various operations within the
Worldwide Construction Equipment Division and later serving as president and chief
operating officer of Deere Credit, Inc. In 1992, he joined the Worldwide Agricultural
Equipment Division where, as senior vice president, he directed equipment operations
in Latin America, Australia and East Asia. In 1996, he was elected chief financial officer.
Lane subsequently moved to Germany serving as managing director of Deere’s
agricultural equipment operations in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, India and
the nations of the former Soviet Union. In August of 2000, he was elected chairman
of the board and chief executive officer.

In an attempt to grow a great business globally, diversity and inclusion is one of the
hallmarks of Deere’s core values. Diversity is reflected in its workplace, marketplace,
and the communities it serves. Putting differences to work to create an inclusive environment
are producing meaningful results. In its workplace, Deere has four multiracial
Employee Network Groups; in its marketplace for its three equipment divisions
in the U. S., more than 220 dealers are minority owned; and in the community, Deere
continues to invest in programs dedicated to strengthening diverse and vibrant communities.
These efforts are the result of the committed leadership of Lane and Deere’s
board of directors.

According to Lane, “For John Deere to compete successfully, on a sustainable global basis,
it seeks to enter new marketplaces with cultural sensitivity, technical sophistication, and
a deep appreciation of the market dynamics. Diversity among the board of directors is an
important component for sustainable growth and global competitiveness.” In addition
to his role as chairman and chief executive officer, Lane serves as a director of General
Electric Company and Verizon Communications Inc. He is an honorary director of the
Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, and a national director of the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Lane graduated with high honors from Wheaton College in Illinois (1972), and earned
a Master of Business Administration degree from The University of Chicago Graduate
School of Business (1974).