Family values and strategic investments drive C J Leonard & Sons’ success in the construction equipment market
For more than six decades, C J Leonard and Sons Ltd (C J Leonard) has built a reputation for quality, reliability, and expertise within the civil engineering and construction industries. As a family-owned and operated business based in Guisborough, UK, the company has evolved from its origins as a commercial vehicle dealer into a trusted specialist supplier of construction equipment, and commercial vehicles. Established in 1964, the business has continually adapted to meet the changing needs of the market, expanding its offering to include new Sumitomo excavators, quality used construction machinery, and commercial vehicles and attachments. Today, C J Leonard combines decades of industry experience with a commitment to delivering dependable equipment and exceptional service to customers across the UK and overseas.
“The business was founded by my grandad, Charles Leonard Snr, who started out dismantling commercial vehicles and selling the parts, before moving onto selling the trucks themselves,” begins Lee Leonard. “In the mid-to-late 1980s, he then went into selling construction and plant equipment. Today, my two uncles, Charlie and Michael, own and run the business, with myself and two of my cousins, Joe and Max Leonard, working alongside. Our Sales Manager, Tim Rice, who has been with us since 2003, is an extension of the family and was instrumental in helping us receive the Sumitomo dealership along with myself and Michael. Organisationally, Charlie and Joe head up commercial vehicle sales, while Michael, Tim, Max, Dan, and I look after plant sales. It’s a real family business and everyone pulls together as one to help each other out.”
Prestigious partnership
Over the decades, C J Leonard has continued to adapt and expand its offerings with the changing market, ensuring that all of its customers receive top-quality service every time. One year ago, the company was proud to become Europe’s first certified Sumitomo dealer – a prime example of how the company’s reputation shines on a global scale.
“We’ve always been in contact with Sumitomo; we were a case dealer for them from 2003 up until 2019,” Lee recounts. “In late 2019, we then got in touch with them and told them that we’d like a dealership. The process started in 2024 and the dealership was finally given to us in 2025.
“The launch has been really successful. We received 51 units in our first batch at the end of November, and they were all sold out by the end of February 2026,” he reveals. “At the beginning of April, we then took a delivery of 98 units, which have also all sold now, and we’re expecting 80 more in September – most of which are already spoken for. A large percentage of those have gone to our existing clients, but we’ve also gained a lot of new customers thanks to our new Plant Sales Specialist, Dan Kitching.”
Investing in infrastructure
The rapid success of the Sumitomo dealership has been complemented by significant investment behind the scenes. Recognising the need to support growing customer demand and strengthen its long-term capabilities, C J Leonard has invested significantly in site development, creating a facility designed to enhance both customer experience and aftersales support.
“We’ve been developing the site over the last 18 months,” Lee confirms. “We’ve added a huge concrete display area with new fencing and lighting, and we have started work on a new warehouse for parts distribution and service. In addition, we’ve just fully refurbished our main offices to bring a modern, fresh look. All in all, we’ve invested upwards of £2 million in our premises alone, along with over £300,000 in spare parts for Sumitomo excavators.”
While investment in facilities and infrastructure has played a key role in the company’s recent growth, Lee emphasises that C J Leonard’s greatest strength lies in its people and the values that have underpinned the family business since its inception. For him, long-term success is built as much on quality equipment and modern premises as it is on trust, honesty, and a hands-on approach to customer service.
“We aim to be very transparent, clear, and honest; we’re not here to pull the wool over anyone’s eyes,” he affirms. “We want to be known for selling good, clean new and used equipment. We’re all really hard-working and are available 24/7. Our grandad has brought us up on good family morals. No job is too big or small for anyone to get their hands in and get dirty.”
These principles continue to shape the company’s direction as it looks ahead to the future. With strong demand, continued investment, and an unwavering commitment to customer service, Lee is optimistic about the future and confident that C J Leonard is well-positioned to build on both its past and recent successes.
“At the moment, we’re in a really strong position. We’re thankful to be selling lots of equipment. There are a lot of economic challenges at play, but we’ve just got to keep going no matter what,” he says.
“Over the next few years, I’d like to see Sumitomo branch out across the whole of the UK so that everyone is able to understand it and appreciate it as much as we do. We’d hope to be in the same strong position that we are now, selling lots of machines to happy customers – maybe even taking on another dealership to complement our Sumitomo offering.”
As C J Leonard enters its next chapter, the company builds upon a legacy of hard work, integrity, and continuous investment. Backed by a thriving Sumitomo dealership, enhanced facilities, and a growing customer base, the family-run business is well-equipped to seize new opportunities while remaining true to the values on which it was founded more than six decades ago.