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Jaguar Land Rover CEO David Smith Calls It Quits

 
5 1,806 views Jan 26, 2010
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Yesterday’s announcement that Ed Whitacre would stay on as CEO of General Motors may have dominated the industry news but it certainly wasn’t the only CEO switch that took place this week.

Jaguar Land Rover has also announced the departure of its CEO, David Smith, and the appointment of company director Ravi Kant as interim CEO until a permanent successor can be found.

Smith originally stepped into the position following the sudden death of the Jaguar Land Rover’s former CEO, Geoff Polites, back in 2008. During his stint he saw the integration of the company with its new parent, Tata Motors, as well as the implementation of a strategy to take the brands, Jaguar in particular, more upmarket.

So far there has been no official word on a long-term replacement for Smith but rumors claiming former GM Europe boss Carl-Peter Forster will join Jaguar Land Rover have already started to emerge.

[Jaguar Land Rover]





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Comments (5)

  1. By edward Posted: 1/26/2010 6:36am PST

    So little time in office and he already is jumping ship??????? Sounds like Jag LR has been so mismanaged for so long that the company is beyond saving.
     
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  2. By PlanetAutomatic Posted: 1/26/2010 8:42am PST

    Im betting Smith didnt cut it.
    JLR has already repayed its loans and while detroit and tokyo have just shut down, they are quietly making a comeback.
    I thik its a good thing hes gone, cause now the business acumen of the TATAS can give this glorious company a shot at making it.
    Next Guy in Line , Step up !!!
     
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  3. By dubbleenerd Posted: 1/26/2010 10:59am PST

    when higher executives 'step down', its just a nicer way of saying they were fired. nobody just voluntarily steps down from being a CEO.
     
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  4. By  buy r4i software Posted: 1/26/2010 6:43pm PST

    Unfortunately, I don't think Tata will be able to stop the decline and fall of Jaguar and Land Rover. The build lovely vehicles, of questionable reliability, which won't be able to meet the coming CO2 regulations in Europe.
     
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  5. By Habib Posted: 2/2/2010 4:10am PST

    TATA will appoint some Raju or Kumar to replace Smith. Soon we'll have Jags & LR's with Curry smell as an option.
     
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