Tata Motors has learnt that managing its complex global expansion with just the home-grown talent isn’t working
Carl-Peter Forster had an option to become the next vice-chairman of General Motors. And he also had a competing offer from Ratan Tata to lead Tata Motors, the country’s biggest automotive firm, to the next level. He chose the latter.
For Ratan Tata, who personally led the search for the past six months, Forster’s appointment on February 15 as group chief executive officer (CEO) is more than just a badge of honour. It is a part of his larger plan to transform Tata Motors into a serious contender in the international arena.
He’s the Man
Forster comes in with top notch credentials for the job at hand. In his previous job, Forster, who started his career with consulting firm McKinsey, was the group vice president and member of the General Motors (GM) automotive strategy and was responsible for GM’s activities in Europe. He has earlier handled restructuring and new product innovations for two of GM’s brands, Opel and Saab. Prior to joining GM, Forster was a director on the board of BMW, leading product development during its ownership of MG Rover and Land Rover.
The Hurdles
(This story appears in the 19 March, 2010 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)