David (Dave) DeFreitas is a retired Group Chief Financial Officer at Caterpillar Inc. and a retired Chief Revenue Office at TADA Cognitive Solutions. He is a high-impact leader with a unique combination of expertise in business leadership and financial management, directing senior business leaders, and strategizing paths forward. Experienced in dynamic markets and diverse environments, he has been integral to several multi-million dollar gains and is skilled at turning analytical findings into transformative action plans.
After beginning his career as an auditor with McGladrey & Pullen (today known as RSM), Dave joined Caterpillar Inc, where he advanced through 18 roles over the course of 32 years before retiring in 2021. His title history includes Group CFO for Corporate Services, Divisional CFO for Aftermarket Parts, Controller (Americas) for Caterpillar Financial Services, Investment Director for Energy & Transportation, CEO/Managing Director for Telehandlers, Corporate Director of Activity Based Costing, and Corporate Business Analysis Project Manager. He gained valuable global experience, including working in the UK for several years. After retiring from Caterpillar, Dave spent 18 months as Chief Revenue Office for TADA Cognitive Solutions, which is a B2B supply chain software solutions company.
At all stops, Dave has excelled at collaborative leadership and mentoring future leaders. From working closely with Cat Financial Services Corp. to shape and execute their business strategy to overseeing materials for the Caterpillar Inc. Board of Directors and serving as Chief of Staff for Caterpillar’s CFO, his focus on adding value and positioning companies, employees, and customers for success has been proven time and again.
For over a decade, Dave has chaired the Business & Engineering Advisory Board at Bradley University, he and is a past Chair and current Executive Board Member of the Department of Accounting Advisory Board at Bradley. He is also a member of the Bradley University Braves Club Board and a member of the Indiana University Accounting Advisory Board. Dave is the Treasurer of the Illinois Epsilon housing corporation (Bradley University’s chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon) and served as Vice Chair of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Boys State Basketball Championship Executive Steering Committee for seven years.
In 2017, Dave and his wife were recognized by the IHSA and Peoria Convention & Visitors Bureau as Volunteers of the Year. In 2019, Dave was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Central Illinois Easterseals Foundation and has co-chaired successful fundraising campaigns. He is also a Future of Finance Advisory Board member for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Dave has also co-authored two articles published in professional finance and accounting magazines.
Related Episodes
In this episode of The Diary of a CFO, we examine what it actually takes to build a 30-year career at a Fortune 50 company and reach the Group CFO seat. Dave DeFreitas, retired Group CFO of Caterpillar Inc., shares the career moves, leadership frameworks, and operational mindset shifts that shaped o...
