Gasgoo Munich- Jaguar Land Rover ("JLR") has announced a major leadership reshuffle, elevating its current China president and CEO, Pan Qing, to the role of global purchasing director at Jaguar Land Rover. Mr. Pan will retain his position as China president alongside the new global mandate, with the appointment taking immediate effect.
Pan Qing; image source: JLR China
At the same time, JLR's China CFO, Tim Howard, has been appointed CEO of JLR China, while chief commercial officer (CCO) Wu Chen and his team will report directly to Howard.
Tim Howard; image source: JLR China
Mr. Pan has overseen JLR's China operations since January 2017, making him one of the longest-serving heads of the business in the market. He is also the first Chinese executive to sit on the company's global board. During his tenure, he led initiatives such as the "China Upgrade Strategy 2020" and the broader "Reimagine" transformation plan, helping position China as an increasingly important hub within JLR's global research, development and manufacturing network.
The personnel changes come as JLR advances new partnerships in China. In 2024, the automaker reached an agreement with Chery to revive the Freelander brand, with new models to be developed on Chery's electric vehicle platform and produced in Changshu. The project aims to blend Chinese manufacturing and electrification capabilities with British brand heritage, targeting the fast-growing intelligent new-energy vehicle segment. The first model under the revived brand is expected to reach the market later this year.
Meanwhile, since 2025 JLR's China-based R&D teams have begun taking on selected global innovation projects, sourcing more than 2,500 components for worldwide models from Chinese suppliers. Industry observers see this as a critical backdrop to Pan's new appointment. As China's automotive supply chain rapidly matures, placing an executive deeply familiar with local suppliers in charge of global purchasing could accelerate the integration and restructuring of JLR's worldwide supply network.
