Tata Motors sets up an interim committee

Tata Motors has set up a committee, with group chairman Cyrus P Mistry as its head, to oversee the vehicle manufacturer's strategy execution and operations.

The committee, Corporate Steering Committee (CSC), has been set up as an interim measure, following the sudden demise of its managing director Karl Slym.

The CSC will provide oversight of strategy and key aspects of the company's operations, Tata Motors said in a statement.

Mistry will chair the CSC, and also the company's new product design and engineering review meetings.

The panel also comprises all the current members of the company's executive committee. The other members are Ravindra Pisharody, Satish B. Borwankar, C Ramakrishnan, T A Leverton, Ranjit Yadav, Mamillapalle Venkatram, Ankush Arora and Rajesh Bagga.

''I was deeply saddened by the tragic and untimely demise of Karl Slym, Managing Director of Tata Motors. To ensure leadership continuity, the board of Tata Motors has constituted a corporate steering committee to oversee strategy execution and key aspects of operations; the corporate steering committee will be chaired by me, and will include the current executive committee members,'' Mistry said in the statement.

''The board expects to appoint a managing director in due course,'' he said.

''As the company looks ahead, it is gratifying to note that several new product launches have taken place recently and a robust pipeline is being showcased at this year's Auto Expo. I am confident that Tata Motors will sustain its strong leadership in the Indian Automobile industry,'' he added.

In January, Slym plunged to his death from the window of a hotel room in Bangkok late last month. The 51-year-old's body was found on the balcony of the fourth floor after plunging from the 22nd floor. He was in Bangkok to attend a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Thai subsidiary of his company.