Hans W. Becherer

Becherer was born in Detroit, Michigan,^[1] he received his undergraduate education at Trinity College (Connecticut), where he was a member of St. Anthony Hall, and his MBA from Harvard.^[2] He became president of John Deere in 1987 and led the Company as CEO from 1989 to 2000 following the financial farm crisis of the 1980s.^[3] In 1990, Becherer also became chairman of John Deere's board when Robert Hanson retired. Under Becherer's tenure the company became a diversified, global competitor. By 1998 around 25% of Deere & Company sales revenues came from outside the United States and almost 50% of its product mix was non-agricultural. Robert W. Lane was elected to replace Becherer as CEO upon his retirement in 2000.

Becherer was inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame in 2004.^[4] He died in Colorado on October 6, 2016, at the age of 81.^[5][6] At the time of his death, he lived in Denver, Colorado.^{[citation needed]}