Barbara Bergmeier has stepped down as executive director of industrial operations at JLR to be replaced by Nigel Blenkinsop, who will continue her leadership focused on maintaining a robust and sustainable end-to-end supply chain.
Nigel Blenkinsop has taken over as executive director of industrial operations at JLR, replacing Barbara Bergmeier, who held the role since its creation in 2022.
Like Bergmeier, Blenkinsop will oversee all aspects of how JLR gets its vehicles delivered to global markets, looking at manufacturing and purchasing, and with a focus on maintaining a robust and sustainable end-to-end supply chain, according to the carmaker.
Blenkinsop has been with JLR for 14 years, having joined in 2012 as director of powertrain manufacturing. He subsequently went on to become director of quality and automotive safety, and operations director at the Solihull plant in the UK. In his previous role he was executive director for company quality and customers satisfaction, a role he held since 2020.
Blenkinsop has 30 years’ manufacturing experience having previously worked for Ford and BAE Systems.
“Nigel is a strong team leader with a passion for developing the next generation of talent,” said JLR in a statement. “He is at the forefront of the sector and is a member of several external bodies, including the Shingo Executive Advisory Board, the Internationals Automotive Task Force as JLR’s nominated representative, the Institute of Engineering Technology, and chairs the Tata Network Forum for Business Excellence in Europe.”
On LinkedIn Bergmeier said she had made the hardest decision to leave JLR and was taking a step back from her career to spend time with family and friends. Reflecting on her time at JLR she noted some of the big challenges the team faced in recent years, including the Covid pandemic, semiconductor crisis and aluminium supply shortage.
“Every single time we’ve tackled challenges or had the chance to explore new opportunities, it’s always been as a team,” she posted. “I am so grateful to have been surrounded by brilliant people during my time at JLR. People who have motivated and empowered me, pushing me out of my comfort zone and trusting me to lead.”
Bergmeier added that one of her fondest memories was bringing procurement, supply chain and manufacturing together – “an industry first and a brilliant example of just one of the amazing achievements we have delivered together”.
In 2023, Bergmeier told Automotive Logistics about the upgrade of systems, skills and supplier relations JLR was making across its supply chain as it moved forward to build more EVs and reduce emissions across operations. Bergmeier set out with a goal to create a more resilient, digital and sustainable operation, and to accelerate an end-to-end approach to operational decisions. That led directly to more investment in digital systems for supply chain planning and risk analysis, supplier relations and real-time visibility across production and logistics.
That integrated supply chain approach continues to be vital as JLR makes the most significant industrial overhaul in more than a generation.
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