Lord Anthony Bamford, the 80-year-old billionaire chairman of Staffordshire-based digger manufacturer JCB, has announced that his youngest son, George Bamford, will succeed him as head of the £6.5 billion company. The decision ends years of speculation about who would take over the family business, founded in 1945.
George Bamford, 45, has been appointed deputy chairman and is preparing to assume full control of the global construction giant, which operates 22 factories across four continents and employs around 19,000 people. His elder brother Joseph, 48, had long been seen as the obvious successor, having worked at the company since 2004 and held senior roles including head of major contracts.
Lord Bamford confirmed the succession plan, stating: 'In terms of us remaining a family business, that is very important, and we do have plans. I'm very lucky and highly privileged to be in charge of this business at the moment. I don't intend to be forever, I am 80, for heaven's sake.' The plan has not yet been formally approved by the board, but the chairman's comments leave little doubt over the future leadership.
George Bamford's path to leadership differs from his brother's. He developed an early interest in mechanical watches and founded his own luxury watch brand, which he still oversees while transitioning into JCB. He now works at the company daily and has toured its international manufacturing operations. Joseph, meanwhile, has built his own reputation as an entrepreneur, founding hydrogen energy company Ryze Hydrogen and rescuing Northern Ireland-based bus manufacturer Wrightbus from collapse. He was awarded a CBE in 2025 for his work in industry.
The Bamford family has a strong tradition of entrepreneurship. Lord Bamford's wife, Carole, founded the organic retail chain Daylesford Organic, and their eldest child, Alice, runs a farm and farm shop in California, in addition to working as a film producer and author.
