JCB announce successor to CEO Alan Blake

Graeme Macdonald appointed to take over from Alan Blake who retires at the end of the year

JCB have announced a successor to chief executive officer Alan Blake who is to retire at the end of the year.

Mr Blake joined JCB in 1989 and became CEO in 2010 after holding a number of senior positions in the company and after leading the biggest production expansion in JCB’s history.

Since his appointment as CEO, he has presided over the company’s return to sales and production growth against a backdrop of continued economic uncertainty around the world.

He will remain as a senior advisor and board member of the company.

Mr Blake’s successor will be Graeme Macdonald, who became chief executive officer designate from 1 June.

Mr Macdonald has held a variety of senior roles during his 16 years with JCB and was latterly the company’s chief operating officer.

He was previously managing director of the company’s backhoe loader business unit, based at JCB’s world headquarters in Rocester, and also held the position of president of JCB Inc, based at the company’s North American headquarters in Savannah, Georgia.