John Deere appoints new managing director

By Alistair June 27, 2016 22:59 Updated

Jonathan Henry has been appointed the new managing director of John Deere in the UK and Ireland. He takes over the role next month from Antony Scott, who has elected to retire after 40 years of distinguished service with the company.

Jonathan Henry joined John Deere as a management trainee in July 1993, following an HND in mechanisation, planning and business management at the Scottish Agricultural College, Auchencruive, and a spell in the service department of an agricultural dealership. From late 1993 he worked as an area manager product support (AMPS) in south-west England, and from 1997 to 2001 as a territory manager in the north of England and borders of Scotland.

Jonathan Henry

Subsequent appointments included product manager of the then newly established agricultural management solutions (AMS) precision farming technology range, key accounts manager, combines product manager and division sales manager from January 2006.

From early 2009, Jonathan held various product marketing roles in Germany and the US, chiefly supporting the launch of the 6R to 8R Series tractors. Since May 2015, he has been planning director for Deere’s global crop harvesting business.

Antony Scott was appointed managing director of John Deere in the UK and Ireland in July 2014, succeeding Richard Johnson. He joined the company in December 1975, also as a management trainee, after obtaining an HND in agriculture at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester and an advanced diploma in agricultural engineering at Writtle College.

Antony served at Langar in positions of increasing responsibility including territory manager, division credit manager, parts and wholegoods manager, distribution manager and division sales manager. From 2011, he was based in Mannheim as Region 2 (Europe, North Africa, Near & Middle East) dealer development manager, scale and coverage, in which role he was responsible for the region’s Dealer of Tomorrow strategy.

“Throughout his career, Antony has had an impact on thousands of customers, dealers and employees,” said Jim Orr, John Deere’s vice president, sales and marketing for Region 2. “He is known to many as a consummate business professional and team player, fully committed to the brand. We thank him for his significant contributions to John Deere over his career – particularly so in the year the branch is celebrating its 50th anniversary in the UK & Ireland – and wish him a long, healthy and happy retirement.”