PB Balaji appointed first Indian CEO of Jaguar Land Rover, to take charge in November 2025
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has named PB Balaji as its next Chief Executive Officer, making him the first Indian to lead the iconic British carmaker.
Balaji will assume the role in November 2025, succeeding Adrian Mardell, who is retiring after 35 years at the company, including the last three as CEO, reported news agency PTI.
The announcement was made by Tata Motors, which owns JLR, in a regulatory filing following the Board’s approval at a meeting held on August 4.
Mardell will remain with the company to ensure a smooth leadership transition until the end of his contract.
Balaji currently serves as the Group Chief Financial Officer of the Tata Group, a role he has held since November 2017.
He has played a key role in Tata Motors' turnaround and has worked closely with the JLR leadership team, making him a natural successor to Mardell.
In a statement, N Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Jaguar Land Rover PLC, Tata Motors, and Tata Sons, said: “I would like to thank Adrian for the stellar turnaround of JLR and for delivering record results. I am delighted to appoint Balaji as the incoming CEO of the company.”
Chandrasekaran said the Board had been searching for the right candidate for several months before selecting Balaji.
“He is deeply familiar with the company, its strategy, and has been actively engaged with the JLR team. This move will ensure that we continue to accelerate our journey to Reimagine JLR,” he added.
Reacting to his appointment, Balaji said: “It is my privilege to lead this incredible company. Over the past eight years, I have grown to know and love this company and its redoubtable global brands. I look forward to working with the team to take it to even greater heights.”
Balaji brings over three decades of experience in the automotive and consumer goods industries, having worked across finance and supply chain functions in Mumbai, London, Singapore, and Switzerland.
He holds a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from IIT-Chennai and a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from IIM.
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