In a pivotal leadership shift, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has appointed PB Balaji as its next Chief Executive Officer, effective November 2025. This move signals a new chapter for the British automaker as it navigates the high-stakes transition to electrification and global brand reinvention across both its brands.
Balaji, currently Group CFO at TATA Motors (since 2017), steps into the role following Adrian Mardell’s recent announcement to retire after a remarkable 35-year tenure. Mardell’s retirement had been long in the works, with the JLR board quietly searching for a successor for months.
JLR’s parent company and TATA Sons Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran praised Mardell for delivering record results and restoring financial stability after years of post-pandemic losses and record sales numbers in 2024. Land Rover in particular has seen strong numbers, posting its best annual profits in nearly a decade. Under Mardell’s leadership, JLR leaned hard into its high-margin flagship models like the Range Rover and ever-popular Defender, pushing towards a 10% profit margin by 2026.
But by far, his boldest move was initiating the Jaguar reboot with the radical Type 00 concept that first broke cover in December last year at Miami Art Week. Mardell called the prototype “the most fun I’ve had” behind the wheel at JLR in an interview with Autocar UK, and said he expects long waitlists when the car launches in 2026. The upcoming all-electric super-GT that will debut around the time Balaji assumes office, that is, towards the end of 2025.
Meanwhile, Balaji brings 32 years of global experience, having operated across TATA’s hubs in Mumbai, Singapore, London, and Switzerland. He will inherit a company in better shape, but far from impending challenges. Tariff pressures in the United States loom large, especially with only 100,000 U.K.-built cars allowed in at the reduced 10% rate before a harsh 25% tariff kicks in.
“This is my privilege. I’ve grown to know and love this company. Now it’s time to help it soar.” – PB Balaji, CEO JLR
European-built JLR models, such as the Defender and Discovery from Slovakia, still face a 15% levy when exported to North America, based on the recently announced new U.S.-E.U. trade agreement.
Then there’s the uphill climb of electrification. While Jaguar’s EV strategy remains on track, the much-hyped Range Rover Electric to up to 300 miles of driving range, has quietly slipped into 2026, as demand softens globally for premium EVs. It remains to be seen how JLR adapts in the evolving global automotive landscape and if more hybrid models are on the cards.
Source: JLR Corporate
