New joint chairman appointed as manufacturer enters next phase
George Bamford is to become Joint Chairman of JCB alongside his father, Lord Bamford, in the first change at the top of the family-owned manufacturer for more than 50 years.
The appointment comes as JCB enters its next phase of investment, with major commitments being made to manufacturing capacity in the UK and USA, as well as new powertrain technology.
JCB has grown from its Staffordshire roots into a global manufacturer with 23 factories and more than 20,000 employees worldwide.
Lord Bamford, who has chaired the business since 1975, said George Bamford’s appointment formed part of the company’s preparations for its next chapter.
“As part of that next chapter, I’m delighted that my son George will become Joint Chairman of JCB,” he said. “We have never been a company that stands still, and these investments will ensure JCB is well placed to seize the opportunities ahead.”
George Bamford said investment in Britain and engineering innovation had remained central to the company since its foundation in 1945.
“While JCB has expanded globally over the years, our home has always been here, and the record investment we are making in our facilities and in new products is good news for Britain and good news for JCB,” he said.
The leadership change coincides with significant investment at JCB’s Staffordshire headquarters, including a £100 million site transformation, and the opening of a new $1 billion manufacturing facility in San Antonio, Texas.
The company is also continuing investment in hydrogen combustion technology following a £100 million development programme.
The appointment represents the first change in JCB’s top leadership structure for more than five decades, as the business continues its transition from a predominantly UK-based manufacturer to a global construction equipment operation while retaining significant manufacturing and engineering operations in Staffordshire.
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