Jaguar is playing hardball when it comes to competing in emerging markets, and is even asking managers to serve a stint in places like China, or else risk being passed over for a promotion.
Jaguar’s parent company, Tata Motors, is looking to establish a joint venture manufacturing plant with a Chinese automaker to allow the British luxury brand to produce significant volumes for emerging markets. However, UK managerial staff is needed to oversee the plants, and Jaguar is having trouble recruiting sufficient numbers of employees, especially those with children or spouses.
One Jaguar exec was particularly blunt, stating “listen matey, if you want to go to the top you’re going to have to go to China, Russia or the US. We’re an international business, we’re 70pc overseas. It’s critical you move out of leafy Warwickshire.”
