Tata Motors has announced a major leadership change. Shailesh Chandra will become the company’s managing director and CEO from October 1, 2025. Dhiman Gupta has been appointed as the new chief financial officer (CFO), replacing PB Balaji, who will take over as CEO of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) in the UK.
The announcement comes at a time when Tata Motors is managing disruptions at JLR. The UK-based unit recently faced a cyberattack that forced production shutdowns, affecting the supply chain and small suppliers.
Shailesh Chandra: Tata Motors’ New Leader
Shailesh Chandra has been with Tata Motors since 2016, joining as Head of Corporate Strategy and Business Transformation. He later became President of the Electric Mobility Business and Corporate Strategy. Chandra will continue leading Tata Passenger Electric Mobility, the company’s EV subsidiary, even after assuming his new role.
Chandra holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Banaras Hindu University and an executive MBA from SP Jain Institute of Management and Research. He also serves on the boards of Tata Technologies, Fiat India Automobiles, Trilix S.r.l. in Italy, and Tata Motors Design Tech Centre Plc in the UK.
The leadership change reflects Tata Motors’ strategy to strengthen its passenger vehicle and EV businesses while ensuring smooth operations at JLR.
Adepu Bindu
Dhiman Gupta and PB Balaji Appointments
Dhiman Gupta joins as Tata Motors’ CFO. He succeeds PB Balaji, who will now lead JLR in the UK. Balaji’s appointment was announced earlier in August. These moves are part of Tata Motors’ broader plan to divide its commercial and passenger vehicle businesses into separate entities.
The commercial vehicles division will operate under TML Commercial Vehicles Ltd, while passenger vehicles, EVs, and JLR will remain part of the other firm. Girish Wagh, Kosaraju Veerayya Chowdary, and Guenter Karl Butschek have also been appointed to key roles in the respective boards. Sudha Krishnan joins Tata Motors as a non-executive independent director.
JLR Challenges and UK Support
Jaguar Land Rover has been struggling after a cyberattack that disrupted production at UK plants. The shutdown affected suppliers and the wider supply chain. Some smaller suppliers reported that they had limited cash to continue operations.
The UK government is considering support measures, including a loan guarantee, to protect jobs and ensure the supply chain recovers. JLR aims to restart some production from October 1 but warned that full recovery will take time.
Looking Ahead
Shailesh Chandra’s appointment comes at a critical time for Tata Motors. With JLR facing operational challenges and the EV and passenger vehicle segments expanding rapidly, his experience in strategy and electric mobility is expected to strengthen the company’s position.
The leadership changes signal Tata Motors’ commitment to growth, innovation, and stability. With a clear focus on both global and domestic operations, the company aims to navigate current disruptions while preparing for future opportunities in the automotive sector.
Nitin Konde
Leave a Reply