John Patterson, chairman and CEO of JCB Inc., last week was named deputy chairman of JCB Worldwide. Sir Anthony Bamford, owner and chairman of JCB, has honored Patterson with this role in recognition of his experience and leadership. In his role as deputy chairman, he will also continue with his responsibilities as chairman and CEO of JCB Inc. and remain based in Savannah, Ga.
The new position represents a first in company history and is testament to the vast knowledge and experience Patterson has amassed over the past 38 years he has spent with JCB. He first joined the company in 1971 as a field service engineer in Canada and quickly rose through the ranks becoming worldwide CEO in 1998. During the last five years of his leadership as worldwide CEO, the company increased retail sales 98 percent, and increased revenue by 107 percent. He also oversaw the expansion and opening of facilities in Sao Paulo, Brazil; Pune, India; Shanghai, China; Gatersleben, Germany; and Savannah, Ga. Last year, Patterson accepted the position of chairman and CEO of JCB Inc., stepping down as worldwide CEO to focus his attention on growing market share in North America.
Patterson was elected to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers’ board of directors in 2007. AEM is the international trade and business development resource for companies that manufacture equipment, products and services used worldwide in the construction, agricultural, mining, forestry and utility fields. He is a member of the Georgia Institute of Technology Advisory Board in Atlanta and was recently named chairman of the Georgia Tech Savannah Advisory Board.
In a 2008 interview with RER, Patterson shed some light on how he has risen through the company ranks over the years and his business philosophy. “I never asked for a job in terms of the next job, it always just happened,” Patterson said. “In my career it happened fairly quickly, so I figured I must be doing something right. I always operated the business with Mr. JCB [founder Joseph Cyril Bamford] and in recent years, Sir Anthony, but you keep doing things until someone tells you you can’t do things. And I very seldom ever have been told I can’t do something. It’s been suggested you might do it a little different next time, but never, 'You can’t do it.' And I think that’s a very good philosophy for people as well, do what you think is right, until someone tells you you can’t do it."
