Popular JCB chief executive bows out

Fond farewell as Alan Blake retires from company after almost a quarter of a century of service

LAST month saw JCB bid farewell to chief executive officer Alan Blake who has retired from the company after almost a quarter of a century of service.

Mr Blake became JCB’s chief executive on 1 January 2010 and was only the fifth person to hold the position. Dozens of friends and colleagues gathered at the company’s World HQ in Rocester, Staffordshire, to say goodbye at a special presentation held in December.

New chief executive officer Graeme Macdonald, who took over the role on 1 January this year, said Alan had contributed a huge amount to the growth and success of JCB over many years.

‘The expansion projects Alan led enabled JCB to double production from 36,000 to 72,000 machines over a five-year period,’ he commented. ‘In addition to his vast achievements at JCB, he will also be remembered for his humility and for making time to speak to everyone, no matter what their rank or position, and that’s something we are all going to miss.

‘On behalf of the 11,000 JCB employees around the world, our dealers and customers, we wish him a very long and happy retirement.’

Mr Blake, who joined JCB in 1989 and will remain as an advisor to the company, said: ‘Coming to JCB was one of the best decisions of my life; the breadth and width of what you can learn here is enormous and the opportunity to achieve great things is endless.

‘I have been fortunate to have a great career here and one that has coincided with the global growth of the company. I have met and worked with some truly brilliant people all around the world and will never forget my time at JCB.’