► Speth to step down as CEO in September
► Will continue as non-exec chairman
► Still on Tata board
Professor Sir Ralf Speth, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Jaguar Land Rover, will step down from the role at the end of his contract in September 2020. He’s been in the post for ten years, following Tata’s buyout from Ford in 2010, and will continue to work for Jaguar as a non-executive Vice Chairman.
Professor Speth will also be remaining on the board of parent company Tata Sons.
Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons, Tata Motors and Jaguar Land Rover, said: ‘I am delighted that Ralf has agreed to maintain his relationship with Jaguar Land Rover. ‘I want to thank Ralf for his passion and commitment over the last 10 years.
‘Ralf developed Jaguar Land Rover from a niche UK centric manufacturer to a respected, technological leading, global premium company. ‘A search committee has been formed which will work with me to identify a suitable successor in the coming months.’
His tenure oversaw such developments as the first Jaguar crossver SUV in the F-Pace and the maker’s debut electric car, the i-Pace, as well as its Ingenium engine range and the launch of a brand new Defender.
Recent history however will undoubtedly be overshadowed by job cuts in 2018 and 2019. Prof Sir Ralf Speth said: ‘I feel very honoured to have worked with so many dedicated and creative people, both inside and outside of Jaguar Land Rover. We have elevated Jaguar and Land Rover. I want to say thank you for all their support and commitment.
‘We offer our customers multi-award-winning products and will continue to surprise with the best pipeline of new, innovative products we have ever had. ‘Personally, I am looking forward to new and exciting challenges.’