JLR has officially announced its new Chief Executive Officer: P.B. Balaji, currently Chief Financial Officer at Tata Motors. Balaji will succeed Adrian Mardell, who unexpectedly stepped down from the position just days ago. His appointment is set to take effect on November 17, 2025.
With this move, JLR becomes even more closely aligned with its Indian parent company, Tata Motors, which has owned the iconic British automaker since 2008. The choice of Balaji reflects a strategic continuity within the Tata Group and underlines the importance of financial leadership in the company’s evolving global vision.
Who is P.B. Balaji?
P.B. Balaji has served as the CFO of Tata Motors since 2017. A seasoned finance professional with decades of international experience, he is part of Tata Motors’ executive committee and holds board memberships at major Tata-owned companies including Tata Consumer, Air India, and Titan Industries.
Although his background is not strictly within the automotive sector, Balaji brings a robust financial acumen honed across various industries — from consumer goods to transportation — and markets in Asia, Europe, and the UK. He began his career at Unilever in 1995, where he held multiple corporate finance roles across the globe before becoming CFO of Hindustan Unilever, a $6 billion consumer goods powerhouse, prior to joining Tata Motors.
Balaji is an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Chennai, one of India’s most prestigious technical universities. He also holds a postgraduate degree in management from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Calcutta, a top-ranked business school in Asia.
His appointment marks a notable transition for Jaguar Land Rover — one that could usher in a period of financial and strategic realignment as the company navigates the challenges of electrification, sustainability, and global competitiveness.
