21 May 2011
Corporate News

Tata and The Times newspaper

The Times newspaper in London today reports an interview with Mr Ratan Tata, chairman of Tata Sons.

This interview, which took place two months ago, contains comments by Mr Tata about the management ethos of Corus and Jaguar Land Rover when Tata acquired the companies in 2006 and 2008 respectively.

Mr Tata says that managers’ work ethic at that time was not to “go the extra mile” and to leave early on Friday afternoons.

Mr Tata has always been proud of what these companies’ present management teams have been able to do following their acquisition by Tata.

The Times also seeks to present these comments as being about company managers today, even though Mr Tata makes clear in the interview that new management at Corus and Jaguar Land Rover has eliminated those practices.

The Times claims that Mr Tata said British managers were “lazy”.  At no stage in the interview did Mr Tata make this comment.

This entire interview was recorded and the transcript will confirm the misinformation created by this alleged quote.

Tata therefore wishes to make clear that The Times article fundamentally misrepresents the interview.

ENDS

For more information please contact:

UK:
Andrew Lorenz, FD
Andrew.lorenz@fd.com
+ 44 (7775) 564 1807                         

Christopher Clark, FD
+ 44 (7879) 885 441
Christopher.clark@fd.com

India:
Sudha Singh, Vaishnavi
+91 9967642060
sudhas@vccpl.com

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