Jan 6 (Reuters) - Caterpillar ( CAT ) said on Tuesday

that top boss ‌Joe Creed ​would succeed Jim ‍Umpleby as ⁠chairman ⁠of

the board, effective ‌April 1.

Umpleby ​retires after over four ⁠decades ‍at ​the construction

equipment maker, during which ‍he guided the company through

several boom-and-bust cycles, including ​the ‍COVID-19 pandemic.

Creed, who joined ​the company in 1997, was named CEO last

year, succeeding ​Umpleby.

(Reporting by Nathan Gomes in Bengaluru; ‍Editing by Anil

D'Silva)