Matthew Taylor is JCB Group's new CEO.

JCB CEO John Patterson is stepping down after over four years at the helm, leading the group through one of its most successful periods.

Patterson is succeeded as group CEO by chief operating officer Matthew Taylor. Taylor, 48, will assume his new role on 1 June. He joined JCB in April 2006 as managing director of JCB Sales and in January 2007 became group chief operating officer.

Meanwhile, Patterson, 58, will focus on JCB's American business as chairman and CEO of JCB Inc of Savannah, Georgia, US. He will remain on the JCB board of directors.

Group chairman Sir Anthony Bamford says JCB is facing "difficult challenges" because of economic uncertainty in the US.

"John Patterson has led the group through one of the most successful periods in our history and I'm pleased that he will now focus his attention on our American business based in Savannah," he says.

Patterson joined JCB in 1971 as a field service engineer and became chief executive in 1998. He was promoted to managing director and CEO in 2004.

JCB says business has doubled in the past four years. The company has also undergone the biggest global expansion in its history with new manufacturing facilities brought on line in the US, Brazil, India, China and Germany.