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Economic Times
24 minutes ago
- Economic Times
PB Balaji to take the wheel as JLR CEO — First Indian to lead iconic automaker
Synopsis Tata Motors has announced P.B. Balaji as the new CEO of Jaguar Land Rover, effective November 17, 2025, making him the first Indian to lead the luxury automaker. He succeeds Adrian Mardell, who is retiring after 35 years. Balaji's appointment comes as Tata Motors undergoes a demerger and JLR navigates its electric transition. Mumbai: Tata Motors has appointed P.B. Balaji as the next Chief Executive Officer of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), effective November 17, 2025, the company said in a notification to the stock exchanges. With this, Balaji becomes the first Indian to lead the British luxury automaker, marking a symbolic and strategic milestone for both JLR and Tata Motors, its parent company. Balaji will succeed Adrian Mardell, who will retire after three years at the helm and 35 years of dedicated service to the company. Mardell is credited with leading a sharp turnaround at JLR during an era of electric transition and global uncertainty. The announcement comes at a pivotal time not only for JLR but also for Tata Motors, which is currently in the process of demerging its passenger vehicle and commercial vehicles businesses. from Indian stock exchanges. As a result of this ongoing transition, the company may no longer require a Group Chief Financial Officer, a role Balaji has held since 2017. His move to JLR, therefore, may also reflect an evolving corporate structure within the Tata automotive ecosystem. It is set to list its CV business in October this year. N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons, Tata Motors, and JLR, stated: 'I would like to thank Adrian for his stellar leadership and record-setting performance. I am delighted to appoint Balaji as his successor. He knows JLR intimately and is well positioned to carry forward the 'Reimagine' strategy.' Balaji, an alumnus of IIT-Chennai and IIM-Kolkata, brings with him 32 years of global experience in the automotive and consumer goods sectors, having led large multicultural teams across Mumbai, London, Singapore, and Switzerland. His financial acumen and strategic leadership have been instrumental in Tata Motors' successful transformation on his new role, Balaji said: 'It is my privilege to lead this iconic company. Over the past eight years, I've come to deeply admire JLR and its exceptional brands. I look forward to the road ahead with optimism and purpose.'Since Tata Motors acquired JLR in 2008, the automaker has seen four CEO transitions–David Smith, Ralf Speth,Thierry Bolloré, and Adrian Mardell. Balaji's appointment represents both continuity and change as JLR navigates its next phase of electrification, innovation, and global repositioning.
Kuwait Times
24 minutes ago
- Kuwait Times
Hamilton and Ferrari crash back to earth
BUDAPEST: Ferrari' British driver Lewis Hamilton (left) competes during the Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring circuit in Mogyorod near Budapest, Hungary.- AFP BUDAPEST: Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari crashed back to earth on Sunday when 24 hours after Charles Leclerc claimed the team's first pole of 2025 they left Hungary frustrated and dejected. Seven-time world champion Hamilton, who on Saturday said he was 'completely useless' to the team and ready to be replaced, wound up 12th while Leclerc dropped from race leader to a grumbling fourth. Hamilton, backed beforehand by team boss Fred Vasseur, was in a bleak mood suggesting that he remained trapped by a crisis of confidence that has turned his spectacular marquee signing for Ferrari into a nightmare. 'When you have a feeling, you have a feeling,' he said enigmatically, responding to a question about his comment suggesting that he was no longer good enough for Ferrari and should be replaced. He added: 'There's a lot going on in the background that isn't great.' Asked if he still loved racing, he replied to say he did, but with little conviction. Leclerc appeared to be little happier after he had failed to convert pole into victory for the 15th time in 16 attempts during the last three years. His one success came in last year's Monaco Grand Prix, his home event. 'We lost a podium, so I am very disappointed,' said Leclerc, having warned the team during the race that they had bungled his car's set-up in some unspecified way. 'But I spoke too quickly because being out of the car, I had a bit more detail about what went on,' he added later. 'I thought it was about something else that we had discussed, but unfortunately it was on the chassis. 'There was an issue on that side and we will look into it for it not to happen again. It doesn't really make me feel any better because when you're fighting for a win, and then you have these kind of issues, it never happens. 'We need to look into it to make sure it never happens again because the car was just undriveable. 'It was around lap 40 because as soon as I started to struggle and to complain, it was basically when we started to have the issue and it got worse and worse. 'It's very frustrating to have everything under control, to know that the pace is in the car to win, and then you end up being nowhere. We lost a podium.' Hamilton, 40, winner of a record eight Hungarian Grands Prix and a record nine poles at the circuit, finished where he started and with his worst result at the circuit, inevitably sparking talk of his possible retirement. But as he headed off towards a summer break, he could look at the joy in the Aston Martin garage where, despite a back muscle injury, his one-time McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso had finished a season's best fifth, aged 44. — AFP
The Star
25 minutes ago
- The Star
FAO launches initiative to strengthen food security in Afghanistan
KABUL, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the British government, has launched a new initiative valued at over 13 million U.S. dollars to improve food security, enhance rural livelihoods, and bolster the resilience of Afghan communities, the FAO announced Monday. "Afghanistan's farmers are extraordinarily resilient, but repeated climate and economic shocks are eroding this strength. This project lays down important pathways to help farmers rebuild that resilience -- leading to better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and ultimately, a better life -- what we in FAO call the 'Four Betters,'" said Richard Trenchard, FAO representative in Afghanistan. According to the FAO, the initiative will prioritize support for small-scale farmers, livestock keepers, and landless laborers, especially widows and women-headed households. Key components of the project include improving wheat and dairy production, restoring community irrigation systems, expanding access to high-quality seeds, and protecting livestock through vaccination campaigns and enhanced local animal health services, it said.
