George Bamford has been appointed joint chairman of JCB, positioning him as the eventual successor to his father, Lord Bamford, at the construction equipment manufacturer founded by his grandfather.
The announcement was made alongside JCB’s results for 2025. Turnover fell to £5.7bn, from £5.8bn in 2024, while profit before tax declined from £687.3m to £642m.
JCB sold 113,948 machines during the year, compared with 119,848 the previous year. The company described its performance as “resilient” amid mixed market conditions and geopolitical uncertainty.
JCB said demand in North America was flat and that the Indian market contracted by 12%. It also reported that it remained debt-free, with no net borrowings, and had increased its global market share.
Hydrogen investment
The results announcement highlighted JCB’s £100m investment in hydrogen combustion technology and the company’s development of a hydrogen-fuelled combustion engine.
The technology attracted international attention when Andy Green set a record for the fastest hydrogen-powered vehicle at the Bonneville Salt Flats, reaching 406.32mph.
George Bamford’s older brother, Jo Bamford, has invested in separate but complementary businesses, including Wrightbus and hydrogen refuelling business HyKit.