JCB Chairman and CEO of North America John Patterson retired after 43 years with the company. In his tenure, Patterson rose through the ranks of the company from field service engineer to group chief executive.

Arjun Mirdha has been appointed to fill the position of chairman and CEO, which Patterson served in since 2008.

Joining JCB in 1971, Patterson went on to work in Canada and America before returning to the U.K. in 1988 as managing director of JCB service. In 1993, he was appointed managing director of JCB sales before becoming group CEO.

In his 10 years in the role, sales broke the £1 billion mark ($1.56 billion) for the first time, and eventually reached more than £2 billion ($3.13 billion) by the time he stood down in 2008, when he became chairman and CEO of JCB in North America.

“During John’s time as chief executive, JCB achieved unprecedented sales growth and led the company’s transformation into a truly global company,” said Lord Bamford, JCB chairman. “I thank John for his contribution over the past 43 years and am delighted he will remain a director of the JCB Group and chairman of the board of the JCB USA companies.”

Under Patterson’s leadership as group CEO, JCB opened facilities in Savannah, Ga.; Sao Paulo; Pune, India; and Shanghai. In 2010, he oversaw a $40 million investment in a new range of skid-steer and compact-track loaders.

“I am proud to have been part of a team which has seen JCB become the world’s third largest construction equipment manufacturer and achieve market leadership for many of its products,” Patterson said. “JCB has made excellent progress in North America in recent years but there are many more opportunities to be seized. I wish Arjun Mirdha well as he leads the team as president and CEO of JCB in North America.”

Arjun Mirdha started in his new role Jan. 1, reporting directly to Graeme Macdonald, JCB group chief executive.