Mara Downing

Mara S. Downing was named Vice President, Global Brand and Communications in November 2019. In this role, she oversees John Deere’s enterprise communication activities and has responsibility for brand management, brand licensing, corporate citizenship, and the John Deere Foundation. Downing brings more than 20 years of finance, public affairs, and communications experience to her current position. Prior to assuming this role, she was Director, Global Brand Management and Corporate Citizenship and President, John Deere Foundation, overseeing John Deere’s portfolio of brands and corporate citizenship initiatives. Previous leadership assignments include Director, International Affairs, and Manager, State Public Affairs. Throughout her tenure, Downing has spearheaded strategic initiatives focused on improving operations, enriching John Deere’s culture, positioning John Deere and its executives as thought leaders in the industry, enhancing communities where John Deere employees live and work, and promoting the John Deere brand in order to drive higher levels of business success. Under her leadership, the company has been recognized as one of Interbrand’s top global brands, Fast Company’s Most Innovative Workplaces, PGA TOUR’s Best Title Sponsor Integration; Tournament of the Year; and Most Engaged Community, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Best Community Improvement Award for the John Deere Foundation’s work in India. The company has also been recognized by United Way Worldwide for exemplifying innovation in engaging employees and leveraging corporate social responsibility to help improve communities across the world. In 2021, the company has been identified as a finalist for The Shorty Awards, Digiday, and PRSA’s Silver Anvil for its work sponsoring and promoting a virtual country music benefit concert to help farmers in need. Prior to joining John Deere, Downing worked in public accounting at Arthur Andersen. A native of the Quad Cities, Downing earned a bachelor's degree from St. Ambrose University, and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University. She is a member of the Page Society and the Conference Board’s Communication Council and serves on several non-profit boards including the John Deere Classic, the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce, United Way of the Quad Cities, and Southeast National Bank.