George Bamford Named Joint Chairman of JCB
JCB has announced a significant change to its leadership, with George Bamford becoming Joint Chairman of the family-owned company alongside his father, Lord Bamford.
The appointment marks the first change at the top of JCB in more than 50 years and comes as the manufacturer enters its next chapter of growth and investment.
From its Staffordshire roots, JCB has grown into one of Britain’s largest privately owned manufacturers, with 23 factories and more than 20,000 employees worldwide.
George Bamford’s appointment comes at an important time for the business. JCB is investing £100 million in the transformation of its Staffordshire World Headquarters, including a £60 million automated powder paint plant and modernisation of its shop floor. The investment will help secure the future of more than 8,000 UK jobs.
Expansion is also underway in the United States, where JCB’s new $1 billion factory in San Antonio, Texas, is set to open next month. At one million square feet, it will be the company’s largest factory in the world and is expected to create 1,500 jobs over the next five years.
The leadership announcement follows a resilient performance in 2025, when JCB recorded sales turnover of £5.7 billion, profit before tax of £642 million and machine sales of 113,498 units.
JCB is also continuing to invest in innovation. Its £100 million hydrogen programme has brought hydrogen-powered construction machines into production, while the JCB Hydromax recently set a new world land speed record for a hydrogen-powered vehicle at 406.320mph.
With major investments in manufacturing, technology and skills underway, George Bamford’s appointment as Joint Chairman represents a milestone as the family business looks towards its next era of growth.
TC Harrison JCB wishes to congratulate George Bamford on his new position within the company, and we look forward to working closely with JCB for many more years to come.