India (Commonwealth Union)_ Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has named PB Balaji as its new Chief Executive Officer, making him the first Indian to oversee the prestigious British luxury automobile manufacturer. Balaji, Tata Motors’ current Group Chief Financial Officer, will formally take over as CEO in November 2025. He will succeed Adrian Mardell, who is stepping down after nearly three years as CEO and a 35-year career with the company. Mardell will remain at JLR during the transition period to support a smooth handover.
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The appointment was confirmed during a JLR board meeting this month, according to a regulatory filing by Tata Motors, JLR’s parent company. N Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Sons, Tata Motors, and Jaguar Land Rover, thanked Mardell for his leadership, crediting him with the company’s recent strong performance. He also welcomed Balaji, saying, “I’m delighted to appoint Balaji as the incoming CEO. He brings deep knowledge of JLR’s operations and has worked closely with the leadership team for several years.”
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Chandrasekaran added that the board spent several months identifying the right person for the role. “Balaji’s experience and leadership will help drive forward our Reimagine strategy.” Balaji expressed gratitude for the opportunity, saying, “It’s a privilege to lead this remarkable company. Over the past eight years, I’ve come to deeply respect and admire JLR and its world-class brands. I look forward to building on this legacy with the team.” Balaji joined Tata Motors in 2017 and has over three decades of experience across the automotive and consumer goods industries. He has worked in key leadership roles in finance and supply chains, managing teams across global hubs, including Mumbai, London, Singapore, and Switzerland.
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Before Tata Motors, Balaji was the CFO of Hindustan Unilever. He started his career at Unilever in 1995 and held various senior positions in India and abroad. He is an engineer by training, having earned a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Madras and an MBA from IIM Calcutta. Balaji’s appointment is a significant milestone for both Jaguar Land Rover and India’s developing global business leadership.
