WHERE ARE WE GOING?
YOUR
MOVE
You’ll find four JCB manufacturing facilities across India, with more than 2,000 employees, exporting to more than 130 countries. From Ballabgarh in the north to Pune in the west, our factories are located near some fascinating and vibrant cities, making them a great base from which to explore India and Asia.
Although they’re all located in the same country, each factory has its own identity and specialisms. Ballabgarh is the world’s largest factory in terms of producing Backhoe Leaders and more than 4 million engines have been built there. Jaipur is a 114-acre, eco-friendly manufacturing site, the only JCB factory in the world to manufacture the Access range of machines. At Pune you’ll find JCB’s largest Design Centre outside of the United Kingdom and it’s the Global Manufacturing hub for Compactors. Last, but by no means least is Vadodara, a highly diverse factory set up for fabricating parts that are exported to other JCB factories around the world.
My career with JCB has been very enriching. It’s given me the opportunity to work in almost every function of Sales & Marketing at JCB India, as well as running regions like Middle East and South East Asia.
My JCB journey started in India in 2007 with the Dealer Development team, selling machines and parts, and supporting our customers through dealers. It was a great place to learn as well to be involved in the appointing and handholding of new dealers. In April 2013, I joined JCB Sales Ltd and was posted at Dubai as District Manager for the Gulf countries. Five years later, I was promoted to General Manager for the Middle East, handling all the 17 countries in the region.
In 2020, I relocated back to India as Vice President - Sales & Marketing, then the following year I was given a secondment for Singapore to lead South East Asia region, handling 17 countries. In Jan 2022, I took an assignment back home in India as Senior Vice President - Sales & Marketing and, since September 2023, I’ve been responsible for Heavy Line business growth that includes Excavators, Wheel Loaders and Compaction range.
When I moved to Dubai, my wife and two children (my son was 7 years old at the time and daughter was just 2) joined me. Before making the decision to move, we had to find the right school and a suitable house nearby. The International HR team at WHQs supported me at every step. They were just a call or email away whenever I wanted help on school, house, insurance, local driving licence, sorting my resident visa, etc. Even later on, International HR remained in touch and asked regularly if my family and I were doing well in Dubai.
Looking back, I believe every new place or country will always throw up some unexpected challenges and you can’t prepare for everything. It’s all about how we adapt to that and get help.
Living in a new location was a wonderful experience as I got an international perspective while working with so many diverse cultures. It gave me an understanding of many different customers, their applications, products required, ways of doing business, new processes and a very different way of thinking. My family thoroughly enjoyed the stay, and I can see a very global outlook in my children. They made new friends who they’re still in touch with. We also took the opportunity to travel around a few other nearby countries on holiday.
I have learnt that whether it’s India, the UK, Dubai or Singapore, JCB values are the same, same products, similar dealer interactions and customer engagement. JCB is a very well-known brand across the regions and countries. People know us for our innovation and speed of response to the market. It’s the sense of urgency that’s common in JCB everywhere, and that we support diversity in cultures that brings new thought processes to the table.
I would say if you get the opportunity to take an international opportunity at JCB, you must go for it! You will become a much better version of yourself. Dealing with diversity in countries has truly given me the understanding of always looking for a better way. It gave me a very global perspective and the opportunity to network with people from global teams who I am still in touch with. Also, it developed a very global culture at our home, especially in our children.
