Bangkok: Karl Slym, the Managing Director of Tata Motors has reportedly died after falling 22nd floor to the fourth floor of the Shangri-La Hotel here at Bangkok. The Accident took place on Sunday January 26, 2014 while his post-mortem will take place on Monday. He was there to attend a meeting of Tata Motors Thailand.
Must Read: Who was Karl Slym?
Karl Slym died due to falling from Hotel Floor
A British national, Slym was leading the company at a time when the auto industry was grappling with prolonged slowdown.
He joined the auto major in 2012 as part of a major management overhaul and was responsible for charting out the company’s strategy to regain momentum in the domestic market.
Expressing condolence at the sudden demise, Tata Motors chairman Cyrus P. Mistry said: “Karl (Slym) joined us in October 2012, and was a valued colleague who was providing strong leadership at a challenging time for the Indian auto industry. In this hour of grief, our thoughts are with Karl’s wife and family.”
Rajiv Bajaj, managing director of Bajaj Auto and an occasional sparring partner, said Slym had become a friend.
“Karl and I had differing positions on the quadricycle, but he was a really fine professional. He took the initiative to contact me in June. We went out for dinner together and enjoyed sharing our experiences in the transformation of our respective companies. So it was a growing friendship and I am completely shocked to hear about this today.”
Slym was visiting Bangkok for a meeting of the Board of Directors of Tata Motors Thailand Ltd, he added.
As part of restructuring exercise Slym last week had announced a voluntary retirement scheme to a section of employees to rationalise costs.
In December, domestic car sales declined 4.52 per cent from a year earlier to 1,32,561 units. Tata Motors’ sales fell about 42 per cent to 6,537 units last month.
Total sales of commercial vehicles were down 25.53 per cent to 46,757 units. The company’s commercial vehicle sales dropped 45.83 per cent to 25,738 units.
Before joining Tata Motors, Slym was the executive vice president, SGMW Motors, China (a General Motors Joint Venture). Prior to that, he was president, managing director and board member of General Motors in India between 2007-11.
For over two decades, Slym was with Toyota and General Motors in various positions across geographies.