V Sumantran to quit Tata Motors

Mumbai: Hot on the heels of Tata Motors appointing Ravi Kant as managing director, V Sumantran, executive director, passenger car business, has announced that he will be leaving the company to pursue other interests.

"Sumantran's last date with Tata Motors will be mutually decided between him and the company at a future date," said a Tata Motors spokesperson. The spokesperson said the company's research and development efforts would continue unhindered and that Tata Motors would begin the "tooling exercise" for its Rs1-lakh-car project shortly.

Tata Sons chairman Ratan Tata had roped in Sumantran, 46, to help turn Tata Motors into a global player.

Sumantran joined Tata Motors in November 2001 after leaving a senior position at the General Motors' R&D centre in Michigan, US. Aerodynamics was his area of research at General Motors.

"It has been a privilege to have worked with Ratan Tata and to have been a part of Tata Motors during the turnaround phase of the company's recent performance. I leave the company with a lot of goodwill and good feelings," Sumantran said.

Ratan Tata said, "Sumantran has contributed significantly to the company during his association. I wish him all success in his future career."