Jaguar Land Rover’s long-serving CEO Adrian Mardell is stepping down after more than 30 years with the company. Mardell, who took the top job in November 2022, has chosen to retire following what was described as a transformative stint at the helm of the British luxury carmaker.
His departure comes after a record-breaking period for JLR, which posted its highest profits in a decade, eliminated a substantial £5bn debt burden, and recorded its strongest operational performance in recent memory.
Before becoming CEO, Mardell had served as the company’s CFO since 2019 and played a critical role in a major repositioning of the Jaguar brand. Under his leadership, the group navigated complex challenges, including a temporary pause in US vehicle exports earlier this year after steep tariffs were imposed on imported cars.
The US remains one of JLR’s most crucial markets, accounting for nearly a quarter of global sales. While some of the company’s key models like the Range Rover are manufactured in the UK — now subject to a 10% tariff — others like the Defender are assembled in Slovakia, facing a 15% duty.
No successor has yet been named, but the company has confirmed that an announcement will be made in due course.
Mardell’s tenure not only stabilised JLR financially, but also positioned the company for its next phase of growth in a highly competitive global automotive industry. His departure marks the end of an era for one of Britain’s most iconic carmakers.