Duluth-based AGCO jet crashes in England

BIRMINGHAM, England - A private jet bound for the United States crashed while taking off at Birmingham International airport Friday, killing the five Americans aboard, including the president of an international company based in Georgia.

The twin-engined Canadair Challenger executive jet, which crashed just after noon, was registered with agricultural equipment giant AGCO Corp., which has its headquarters in Duluth, Ga.

John Shumejda, president and CEO of AGCO, and its senior vice president of sales and marketing, Ed Swingle, were killed, said company spokeswoman Molly Dye.

``They were superior business leaders,'' Dye said. ``They knew their business, they knew their customers and employees. They were very much hands on with the business.''

Mr. Shumejda was part of the management buyout in 1990 and, as such, has been a member of the Company's management team since its inception. Prior to his current position, Mr. Shumejda has held various key senior management roles within the Company including President and Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President-Operations.

He was appointed to his current position in February 1999. At that time, Mr. Shumejda was also elected to AGCO's Board of Directors. He serves as a member of both the Succession Planning Committee and the Executive Committee of the Company's Board.

Mr. Shumejda had more than 29 years of experience in the truck, tire and farm equipment industries. Prior to joining AGCO, he held several operational and management positions at International Harvester Company and at Uniroyal, Inc.

Edward Swingle was part of the management buyout in 1990 and, as such, has been a member of the Company's management team since its inception. He had over 35 years experience in the farm equipment industry and has held several key management positions within AGCO Corporation, Deutz-Allis Corporation and Allis-Chalmers Corporation. They include Senior Vice President, Marketing Worldwide, where he was responsible for the global marketing function; Vice President