OBITUARY: Jaguar Land Rover Head Dies - aftermarketNews

OBITUARY: Jaguar Land Rover Head Dies

Jaguar and Land Rover's chief executive Geoff Polites, credited with steering the business through its sale to Indian giant Tata, has died at the age of 60. Polites died in his home country of Australia yesterday after battling a serious illness for the past two years. His death comes just weeks after Ford announced it was selling its Jaguar and Land Rover businesses to Tata in a $2.3 billion deal that ended its 19-year ownership of the luxury two brands.

From Birmingham Post

Jaguar and Land Rover’s chief executive Geoff Polites, credited with steering the business through its sale to Indian giant Tata, has died at the age of 60.

Polites died in his home country of Australia Sunday after battling a serious illness for the past two years.

His death comes just weeks after Ford announced it was selling its Jaguar and Land Rover businesses to Tata in a $2.3 billion deal that ended its 19-year ownership of the luxury two brands.

As a former car dealer, Polites spent much of his 40-year career in the automotive industry working his way up the ranks until he was appointed chief executive of Jaguar and Land Rover in 2005. He was credited with leading the team that returned Jaguar Land Rover business back to profitability.

"He ensured that Jaguar Land Rover was not distracted and continued to focus on the fundamentals of business during the recent sale process, despite at the time fighting his own personal battles," said Alan Mulally, president and chief executive of Ford Motor Company.

David Smith, Jaguar and Land Rover’s chief financial officer, will take over as acting chief executive.

(C) 2008 Birmingham Post. via ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved

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