JCB Chief Executive Officer Matthew Taylor has decided to leave the company at the end of the year to pursue other opportunities.

Alan Blake becomes chief executive officer on Jan. 1, 2010, reporting to JCB Chairman, Sir Anthony Bamford. Blake currently is chief operating officer and has been a senior director at JCB for 20 years. A new structure has been put in place to promote the next generation of executive management, with Tim Burnhope becoming group managing director of product development and commercial operations and Graeme Macdonald becoming group managing director, business operations.

David Bell, who currently is managing director of JCB Sales, becomes chief development officer with particular responsibility for JCB’s future development in China and Brazil, where the company has plants. David Miller remains in post as chief financial officer.

Bamford commented: “Tim Burnhope and Graeme Macdonald are taking on exciting new roles within the business and they will benefit greatly from the vast experience of Alan Blake, David Miller and David Bell. I am confident this new structure will strengthen JCB’s reputation as a leading customer-focused, innovative and cost-competitive business. I want to also thank Matthew for his valuable contribution to JCB and wish him every success in the future.”