JCB names youngest son George Bamford joint chairman in first leadership change in over 50 years

From the Newshound archive · first published 28 September 2026 · last updated 29 September 2026.

George Bamford, Lord Bamford's youngest son, will take up a co-chairman role at JCB from October, drawing a line under years of uncertainty over who would eventually lead the digger giant. Lord Bamford, at the helm of the Staffordshire company since 1975, stays on as joint chairman beside his son. The announcement coincides with JCB revealing a £100m overhaul of its Rocester headquarters and plans to open a new Texas plant next month.

Elder son Jo Bamford had long appeared the likeliest successor but reportedly pushed his father to hand over control — a move Lord Bamford regarded as a coup attempt.

The new San Antonio, Texas factory is projected to generate 1,500 jobs across five years and help the company avoid tariff costs on UK-made goods sold in the US.