AGCO's European Operations Centre breaks new ground
10/08/05

Agco DT240

Building work has started on AGCO's new European Operations Centre at Abbey Park, Stoneleigh.

Staff members Micaela Chendi and Paul Nicholls joined the farm machinery Company's Senior Vice-President and General Manager Gary Collar and representatives from the site owners and builders to mark the event with a special ground-breaking ceremony.

“We are delighted to have found an excellent location so close to our existing Banner Lane, Coventry offices and to the homes of many of our staff here,” said Gary Collar. “Our UK based employees have a huge fund of knowledge, expertise and skills built up over many years that are crucial to the success of the business. AGCO is committed to the area and we are developing a first class office building that will truly reflect the calibre of our workforce,” he added. 

The company has taken a 20-year lease from the site owners, Pettifer Estates on a two-storey 7,525 sq m (81,000 sq. ft) modern building at the Grade II listed 118 acre parkland site. The purpose-designed curved structure will have two separate wings with two 1,672 sq. m (18,000 sq ft) floors in each and joined by a spectacular glass atrium. It will serve as AGCO's European Centre for the management of the company's sales and marketing, distribution, finance, systems, purchasing, parts and service operations throughout Europe, Africa and Middle East (EAME).

Completion of the building is scheduled to allow AGCO to move in during Autumn 2006.

AGCO's links with the Abbey Park, Stoneleigh site goes back a long way. For many years it was the home of Massey Ferguson's Worldwide Headquarters and training operation. Massey Ferguson is a major brand of AGCO Corporation.

AGCO's Micaela Chendi, Senior Planner and Expeditor- Customer Support Division and Paul Nicholls, Desktop and Network Manager whose names were drawn out of a hat to represent employees at Banner Lane, are both looking forward to the move to the new offices.

“It will be great to have a working environment in the countryside and offices with plenty of light and space,” says Micaela who has worked for AGCO for five years. With 23 years' service under his belt, Paul Nicholls is also enthusiastic about a move to rural surroundings and added, “It's good to be moving to a brand-new building and especially pleasing that it's a familiar location with such strong connections for the company.”