The British boss of Indian car giant Tata Motors has died after falling from a hotel in Bangkok.
Karl Slym, 51, was discovered at the foot of the towering Shangri-La hotel in the city’s upmarket Yannawa district yesterday morning after falling from his 22nd floor bedroom.
The executive, originally from Derby, had checked into the five-star hotel with British wife Sally on Friday and had been due to check out yesterday.
An unconfirmed report in Thailand claimed police found a suicide note in the room. It added that his wife was being treated for shock. But sources close to the company have told India’s Economic Times that Mr Slym’s death was the result of an accident after he ‘lost his balance’ and fell from his hotel room window.
Police have launched an investigation into his death and a post-mortem examination will be carried out in Bangkok today.
Mr Slym joined ailing Tata Motors in 2012, giving up the role of executive vice-president of SGMW Motors China, a General Motors joint venture. He had headed General Motors in India before that.
He was head-hunted for Mumbai to overhaul Tata’s lacklustre manufacturing, sales and distribution operations, including the ultra-cheap Nano car.
As well as being in charge of the car maker’s operations in India, Mr Slym was responsible for Tata Motors’ interests in South Korea, Thailand and South Africa. He had travelled to Bangkok to attend a board meeting of Tata Motors’ Thailand unit.
He had recently announced a huge retirement programme that would lead to thousands of job losses. Last night, Tata Motors chairman Cyrus Mistry paid tribute to Mr Slym and offered his sympathies to his family. He said: ‘Karl 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.’
A spokesman said the company ‘deeply regrets to announce the untimely and tragic death of Mr Slym’. Renault India executive director Sumit Sawhney said: ‘It’s a big personal loss. He was a close friend. We were like family members. It’s really sad. He was one of those people who would go out of their way to help out a friend.’
A car industry analyst said Mr Slym had been instrumental in leading Tata Motors out of its troubles.
The firm recently brought out a new petrol engine and is planning to launch new hatchback and saloon models later this year.
Anil Sharma, of HIS Automotive, said: ‘His death comes before his efforts bear fruit. We should be able to see the results of his work in a year or two.’
Born and raised in Derby, Mr Slym remained a loyal fan of Derby County Football Club despite a flourishing career that saw him travel around the world.
© anu for Royal Times of Nigeria Newspaper, 2014. |
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