London/Mumbai— In a move that blends succession planning with a dash of Formula 1-style pit-stop efficiency, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has announced that P.B. Balaji will take over as Chief Executive Officer from November 2025. Balaji, currently Group CFO of Tata Motors, swaps spreadsheets for steering strategy, succeeding Adrian Mardell, who will retire after three years as CEO and an impressive 35 years with the company.
N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman of JLR, Tata Motors, and Tata Sons, praised Mardell’s “stellar turnaround” of JLR, crediting him with delivering record results while keeping the brand’s luxury leather seats firmly in the driver’s seat of the global auto market. On Balaji’s appointment, Chandrasekaran noted the Board’s months-long talent hunt concluded with a familiar face, ensuring JLR’s “Reimagine” strategy stays in the fast lane.
Mardell, reflecting on his tenure, likened his leadership to navigating JLR through “a time of incredible change” — presumably without even a single low-battery warning on the electric Range Rover dashboard. He wished Balaji success in his “next innings,” keeping the tone more cricket pavilion than corporate boardroom.
Balaji, who has been with Tata Motors since 2017, expressed both excitement and humility. “It is my privilege to lead this incredible company,” he said, adding that over eight years he has grown to “know and love” JLR’s global brands — the type of affection usually reserved for one’s first Jaguar E-Type.
A mechanical engineering graduate from IIT-Chennai and a PGDM holder from IIM-Kolkata, Balaji brings 32 years of automotive and consumer goods experience, as well as a résumé spanning Mumbai, London, Singapore, and Switzerland. That’s four countries, countless time zones, and probably enough frequent-flyer miles to qualify for a free Evoque.
As JLR changes drivers at the corporate wheel, investors and enthusiasts alike will watch closely to see how Balaji navigates the luxury marque through the evolving automotive landscape — hopefully with adaptive cruise control firmly engaged and no need to slam the brakes.
