Succession planning, the plan we never knew we needed to make.

At JCM Load Monitoring, we had a succession plan prepared that would be put into action when our dad, Jim C Murray, retired. What was never within our consciousness was that we would have to create a succession plan following the loss of our Technical Director and brother, Chris.

It was the hardest time of our lives, both personally and professionally. I’m not ashamed to admit that for two weeks I sat in complete shock and grief after hearing the devastating news that Chris had been advised by medical professionals that the brain tumour would take his life within 12–15 months.

Cancer is a cruel disease that affects so many families, but you never truly imagine it will affect yours — until it does.

Once I was able to think clearly again, I knew we had to create a new succession plan. One that no longer involved our dad being in the business, but heartbreakingly, no longer involved our brother either.

This plan was created at speed, and 15 months later, my sister Fiona and I, can look each other in the eye knowing that we not only produced a new succession plan — we successfully implemented it.

Chris was a huge part of JCM Load Monitoring. His loss will stay with us forever. The future we had always imagined, with the three of us continuing to build the business together, is no longer the path we get to take. However, the steps we put in place will ensure that the company we built together continues to grow, succeed, and carry forward everything Chris helped create.

Now, JCM Load Monitoring begins a new chapter.

We are now a women-led company, continuing to design and manufacture high-quality load monitoring products for customers and industries around the world.

This milestone is something we are incredibly proud of. It represents resilience, strength, and our continued commitment to innovation, quality, and the customers who have supported us throughout our journey.

While our future looks different from the one we planned, the values, knowledge, and foundations built by our family remain stronger than ever.