JCB's CEO, Alan Blake has announced his retirement after being with the company 25 years. Blake who became CEO Jan.1, 2010 and will remain as an advisor to JCB. CEO-Designate Graeme Macdonald will take over as CEO on Jan. 1.
“Coming to JCB was one of the best decisions of my life," Blake said. "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 I will never forget my time at JCB.”
Blake joined JCB Transmissions in Wrexham in 1989 as operations director and developed new transmissions for the company's backhoe loader and Loadall telescopic handler. In 1995 he was promoted to managing director of JCB Transmissions and led the company to double its production capacity with the opening of a second plant at the Wrexham site. In 2000, Blake was appointed managing director of JCB Service, and in 2003 he became group manufacturing director, making him responsible for JCB’s global production operations. Blake led the biggest expansion and investment program in the company’s history; he was named COO in 2009 before taking up his current position.
“Alan has contributed a huge amount to the growth and success of JCB over many years," Macdonald said. "The expansion projects Alan led enabled JCB to double its production from 36,000 to 72,000 machine over a five year period. 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.”
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