JLR's CEO, Adrian Mardell, calls it quits after a 35-year tenure at the company
Adrian Mardell, the long-serving CEO of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), has announced his retirement, effective at the end of 2025. Mardell, who has been with the company for 35 years and served as CEO for about three years, will step down after a transformative period that has been one of the most significant in the brands' histories[6][7].
During his tenure, Mardell has led JLR through a period of significant change, turning the company around from heavy losses and huge debt in the wake of the pandemic to posting its best profit figures for a decade[8]. One of the key factors in this turnaround has been the success of the Defender and Range Rover models, which have contributed significantly to JLR's profitability[9].
Under Mardell's leadership, JLR has also implemented a new retail strategy, known as the House of Brands. This strategy has seen each of the Defender, Discovery, Range Rover, and Jaguar brands positioned as distinct entities, with bespoke marketing strategies developed for each model family[10].
One of the most exciting developments under Mardell's leadership has been the shift towards high-end, high-performance electric vehicles (EVs). The Jaguar Type 00 concept, unveiled during Mardell's tenure, signaled the beginning of this transformation and marked a move to compete with the likes of Bentley[11].
Mardell's retirement comes as JLR is aiming for a 10% profit margin by 2026[12]. The company is currently in the final stages of testing a four-door super-GT model in the style of the Porsche Taycan, which is set to be unveiled at the end of the year and launched in summer 2026[3].
As of early August 2025, no successor for Mardell has been announced, but the company has stated that an announcement will be made "in due course"[1][2][4]. Mardell has expressed his desire to retire, and it remains to be seen who will take over the helm of JLR as it continues to push forward in the electric vehicle market.
References:
- https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/jaguar-land-rover-ceo-adrian-mardell-to-retire
- https://www.motoringresearch.com/news/jaguar-land-rover-ceo-adrian-mardell-to-retire-in-2025
- https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/jaguar-electric-supercar-to-rival-porsche-taycan-to-be-unveiled-in-2026
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57556678
- https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/jaguar-land-rover-ceo-adrian-mardell-to-retire-in-2025
- https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/jaguar-land-rover-ceo-adrian-mardell-to-retire
- https://www.motoringresearch.com/news/jaguar-land-rover-ceo-adrian-mardell-to-retire
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57556678
- https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/jaguar-land-rover-ceo-adrian-mardell-to-retire
- https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/jaguar-land-rover-ceo-adrian-mardell-to-retire
- https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/jaguar-land-rover-ceo-adrian-mardell-to-retire
- https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/jaguar-land-rover-ceo-adrian-mardell-to-retire
In the concluding stages of Mardell's CEO tenure at Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), the company is targeting a 10% profit margin by 2026, with plans to unveil a four-door super-GT model in the style of the Porsche Taycan by the end of the year for launch in summer 2026. Throughout his leadership, Mardell has steered JLR through significant industry-wide transitions, including a focus on high-end, high-performance electric vehicles (EVs), and the implementation of a new retail strategy in the finance sector.
