SYDNEY (AFP) — The chief executive of British luxury icons Jaguar and Land Rover, Geoff Polites, has died in Australia where he was visiting family, Ford Australia said Monday. He was 60.
Polites, a former president of Ford Australia, is credited with leading Jaguar and Land Rover through the on-going sale from Ford to India's Tata Motors Ltd.
The deal is set to net the ailing US carmaker 2.3 billion dollars.
"Geoff was home in Australia for the birth of his first grandchild and, unfortunately, became critically ill while here," Ford Australia president Bill Osborne said in a statement.
"He passed away with his wife and family by his side."
Osborne said Melbourne-born Polites had suffered ill health for two years but was determined to return the prestige motor brands to profitability after taking on the top post in 2005.
"His energy, enthusiasm and support for our business will be sorely missed," he said.
Polites joined Ford Australia in 1970 as a product planner.
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