JCB has appointed a new managing director of JCB Sales to continue the momentum of the company’s record sales performance in 2005.

Matthew Taylor will join JCB following a long and successful international career with Ford Motor Company. For the past five years Taylor has been managing director of Land Rover. He takes over the JCB role from Francoise Rausch, who has achieved tremendous worldwide sales growth over the past four years. Rausch will continue as an executive director of JCB Sales, spearheading elements of JCB’s growth plans, with initial responsibility of her native country France.

John Patterson, managing director and CEO, JCB said: “It is a measure of the success of JCB that we have been able to recruit someone of Matthew Taylor’s caliber to the key worldwide sales role. JCB remains very ambitious and I know that Matthew will make a significant contribution to our future growth.

“Our sales performance is a tribute to Francoise’s energy and dedication and I am pleased JCB will continue to benefit from her skill and unrivaled experience of the construction equipment industry.”