John Patterson, chairman and CEO of JCB Inc., has been appointed deputy chairman of JCB Worldwide. 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 also will 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 in 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’ (AEM) 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 has recently been named chairman of the Georgia Tech Savannah Advisory Board.