David Smith quits Jaguar Land Rover

26 January 2010

Jaguar Land Rover has announced that chief executive David Smith has quit the company.

Mr Smith's exit comes after the car maker and union bosses failed to come to a consensus over workers' pay and conditions.

However the company - owned by Indian group Tata Motors - said Mr Smith's departure was not linked to the failure of talks.

A spokesman for the company said: "We are disappointed the discussions ended without agreement, but his departure is not linked to the talks."

The company said that the details of Mr Smith's departure is "a confidential matter between him and the company".

Ravi Kant, director of the group, will temporarily assume the role of the firms' chief executive until a permanent successor is appointed.

Jaguar Land Rover is planning to implement a new structure of pay and pensions for new starters, but the six-day talks with unions last week turned out to be futile.

Following the publication of the firm's strategic review in September, the car maker and union leaders had sat for an informal discussion before Christmas.

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