Tata Motors CFO to take charge of Jaguar Land Rover after CEO’s exit

Tata Motors Ltd.’s Chief Financial Officer, PB Balaji, will step in as CEO of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) this November, giving the Indian automaker tighter operational control of its British luxury subsidiary following the departure of current chief executive Adrian Mardell.

The appointment, announced Monday, comes just days after news broke that Mardell would leave the company after three years as CEO and 35 years at JLR.

Balaji, who has served as Tata Motors’ CFO since 2017, will now oversee JLR — a division that contributes roughly two-thirds of Tata’s revenue. JLR, the maker of Range Rover and Land Rover SUVs, has faced challenges in recent years, including tariffs in its largest market, the US, and criticism over its plans to relaunch Jaguar as an all-electric brand.

Adding to the controversy, former US President Donald Trump weighed in on Monday, claiming Jaguar was in “absolute turmoil” following what he called a “woke” advertisement. The branding teaser, released last year, showed expressionless models and vibrant colours — but no cars.