Dyson has appointed its American president Max Conze as its chief executive.

He replaces Martin McCourt who, after pushing company sales to more than £1 billion a year, decided it was time for a new challenge.

“Dyson has been an incredible experience,” said Mr McCourt. “Having seen it develop from a UK business to a global technology company, I’m in a good place to end this chapter and begin the next. And Dyson is still very young; while we have achieved a lot with fans, hand dryers and digital motors, there is still so much more potential.”

About his successor, Mr McCourt said: “I’ve worked closely with Max and he embraces Dyson’s outlook – technology is always our focus.  I am proud of the exceptional team that will propel Dyson forward.”

Mr Conze (pictured) is credited with driving Dyson’s growth in the USA, where it is the number one selling upright vacuum cleaner manufacturer. Before joining Dyson, he was a general manager at Procter and Gamble and has worked in Germany, China, Switzerland, the UK and the USA.

Of his new role, Mr Conze said: “Martin leaves a great legacy and a great blueprint from which to build ongoing success.  My job is to take the new technology developed by our expanding army of engineers and grow Dyson – more machines and markets. And of course, more people.”

Dyson founder James Dyson added: “Martin’s leadership has resulted in an exceptional team achieving great things, for which I am very grateful.  Max shares my faith in young talent – or inexperience – and, as we begin a new phase, we are redoubling our efforts to bring in the brightest graduates, not just in engineering, but across Dyson, here in the UK and overseas.”