He takes over from long-serving JCB executive Chris Spring, who will retire from the company in late 2012 having held various senior management roles with JCB Attachments, JCB Earthmovers and JCB Sales.

Bamford, 33, son of JCB Chairman Sir Anthony Bamford, was educated at Ampleforth College and is a Master of Arts graduate from the University of Edinburgh.

After graduation, Jo spent two years as a fund manager with New Star Asset Management in the City of London.

He joined JCB in 2002 as a product specialist for the company’s skid steer product range based at JCB’s North American headquarters in Savannah, Georgia.

For the past eight years, Jo has been managing director of JCB Utility Products, based in Cheadle, Staffordshire, where he has broadened the appeal of the company’s utility product range to new industry sectors.

A particular career highlight in recent years has been the successful launch of the JCB WORKMAX range of utility vehicles, creating new markets around the world in the leisure, sports and estates management sectors.

In his new role he will continue to retain responsibility for JCB Utility Products – the combined turnover of both businesses is in excess of £150m.

Jo Bamford said “I am taking over as managing director of JCB Compact Products at a pivotal moment. The business is going from strength to strength and we have some exciting new product innovations coming through in the next couple of years, which will strongly improve our market position.”