In a statement, Mr Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons, Tata Motors and Jaguar Land Rover plc said: “I want to thank Ralf for his passion and commitment over the last 10 years. Ralf developed Jaguar Land Rover from a niche UK centric manufacturer to a respected, technological leading, global premium company.”
Prof Sir Ralf Speth has been a supporter of the Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club for a number of years, as Director and previous Chairman of the Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club, Peter Purdom recalls, “My first encounter was I think at Thoresby Hall, where he had arrived unannounced for our annual event. In fact, it was my wife Angie who met him first as she was checking tickets on the gate and he was informed that, because he was not driving a Jaguar, he would need to park in the 'general parking' area! The clue that was missed was the Range Rover with the registration LR 1. When it was pointed out that he was the CEO of JLR Angie went and found him and apologised and said he could park wherever he wanted. His very gracious response was to say that she was quite correct and that he should have come in a Jaguar.”
Sir Ralf was also in attendance at the Royal Windsor Jaguar Festival in 2017 an event that Peter Purdom, who was JEC Chairman at the time, remembers very fondly; “Sir Ralf spent the whole weekend with us and so I was able to get to know him at that time - we both planted trees in the grounds of the Castle together with HRH Prince Edward so I suppose that we are linked together in perpetuity. As we sat in the quadrangle of Windsor Castle and watched Michael Quinn driving XJ13 around the drive, I remember Sir Ralf turning to me and saying that there could be no better place in the world to hold a car event...”
Sir Ralf was born in Germany and has been at the helm of Jaguar since 2010 when Tata acquired the business from Ford. During that time he has overseen a major expansion of the Jaguar model range and the pioneering of new markets and new technologies. The good news is that Professor Sir Ralf Speth will remain involved with Jaguar Land Rover and is confirmed to be taking the position as non-executive Vice Chairman on the JLR board.
Speaking on his move, Prof Sir Ralf Speth said: “I feel very honoured to have worked with so many dedicated and creative people, both inside and outside of Jaguar Land Rover. We have elevated Jaguar and Land Rover. I want to say thank you for all their support and commitment.”
The Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club would like to thank Prof Sir Ralf Speth for the support over the years and wish him all the best for the future.
Left Image credit below: Roger Gage. The quadrangle at Windsor Castle. (From left to right: Tim Hannig, then Director of JLR Classic, Sir Ralf, Angie Purdom, Peter Purdom, Mrs Tui Panter wife of the then Chairman of the Prince Philip Trust.)
