Tata Motors has named P.B. Balaji as the next Chief Executive Officer of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), effective November 2025. He will succeed Adrian Mardell, who will retire at the end of this year after a 35-year career with the British luxury automaker.
The transition was approved by JLR’s Board of Directors and disclosed in a regulatory filing. Mardell, who has served as CEO since 2022, will stay on until December to support a smooth leadership handover.
From CFO to CEO
Balaji currently serves as the Group Chief Financial Officer of Tata Motors, a role he has held since 2017. Over the past eight years, he has been closely associated with JLR’s executive leadership and has played a pivotal role in shaping its financial and strategic roadmap. His promotion comes as part of a planned succession strategy overseen by the board.
An alumnus of IIT-Chennai and IIM-Kolkata, Balaji brings over three decades of global experience across the automotive and consumer goods sectors, with previous stints in Europe and Asia. His appointment is being seen as a move to maintain strategic continuity as JLR navigates its next phase of transformation.
Mardell’s transformative tenure
Adrian Mardell’s term as CEO was marked by notable financial recovery and structural overhauls. Under his leadership, JLR sharpened its focus on luxury, improved profitability metrics, and reduced net debt. He was instrumental in advancing the company’s “Reimagine” strategy, a long-term blueprint aimed at electrification, premium positioning, and operational resilience.
However, his tenure also sparked debate over the “Panthera” rebranding of Jaguar, which saw the departure of the iconic growler logo in favour of a minimalist “J” and the slogan “Copy Nothing”.
In a statement, N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons, Tata Motors, and JLR, credited Mardell with steering JLR’s turnaround and expressed confidence in Balaji’s leadership. “Balaji’s familiarity with the company’s strategic direction and leadership team will ensure that momentum is not lost,” he said. With Balaji at the helm, JLR is expected to double down on its electrification push, brand repositioning, and drive toward sustainable profitability across global markets.