Phil Popham
Encyclopedia
Phil Popham is Global Operations Director for the global Jaguar Land Rover
business, responsible for the fortunes of the companies worldwide. Having spent almost his entire career with Land Rover (he joined in 1988), he took up his current position in December 2010. He has presided over a period of rapid growth for the company, leading to record sales
of more than 200,000 vehicles.
, Worcestershire
, England
, and graduated with a first class BSc (Hons) in management
studies from the University of Aston, Birmingham
.
as Marketing Director between 1995 and 1997. He continued to gain international experience between 1998 and 1999, as Vice President of Marketing
for Land Rover North America. He then left Land Rover to become Head of Operations, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
from 1999 to 2001, before being lured back by the attractions of Land Rover’s UK Sales Directorship. Two years of record sales and profits
helped propel him to appointment as Managing Director Jaguar and Land Rover (UK) in March 2003. A promotion to Director of Global Operations for Land Rover followed in February 2006, leading almost immediately (April 2006) to his being elevated to the Managing Director role. As he said at the time “it is a great honour and challenge to take the helm of such an iconic brand”
s since its inception in 1948, but never so extensively or in such volumes as now. The company employs 10,000 workers (and supports a further 40,000 in the extended supply chain
). Over 70% of models are sold abroad in over 160 countries, with the UK
being the company’s largest single market. Popham has also overseen the introduction of “the world’s leading carbon offset
programme” offsetting all CO2 produced by Land Rover manufacturing (and for UK, France
, Belgium
, Austria
, Norway
, Sweden
, Denmark
, China
, the Gulf region drivers - the first 45,000 miles on the road). When allied to the introduction of fuel-efficient diesel across the range, Popham notes that “we are as serious about sustainability
as we are confident about the continuing relevance and desirability of our vehicles.”
Having witnessed shifts of ownership from BMW
to Ford
to Tata
, Popham is on record as saying that Land Rover’s success is self-sustaining. “We are in the middle of a sales phenomenon” he has noted, adding “we are solidly in the black, very profitable and the future looks extremely bright for the brand.”
. In addition to his allegiance to West Bromwich Albion F.C.
and general passion for football he follows all sports, and enjoys travel.
Jaguar Land Rover
Jaguar Land Rover is a British automotive company owned by Tata Motors of India. It develops, manufactures and sells vehicles under the Jaguar and Land Rover marques.-History:...
business, responsible for the fortunes of the companies worldwide. Having spent almost his entire career with Land Rover (he joined in 1988), he took up his current position in December 2010. He has presided over a period of rapid growth for the company, leading to record sales
Sales
A sale is the act of selling a product or service in return for money or other compensation. It is an act of completion of a commercial activity....
of more than 200,000 vehicles.
Background
He was born in 1965 in RedditchRedditch
Redditch is a town and local government district in north-east Worcestershire, England, approximately south of Birmingham. The district had a population of 79,216 in 2005. In the 19th century it became the international centre for the needle and fishing tackle industry...
, Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and graduated with a first class BSc (Hons) in management
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
studies from the University of Aston, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
.
Career
Having joined Land Rover as a graduate trainee in 1988, Popham has spent all but two years of his career with the company. His first directorial role and foreign posting saw him based in South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
as Marketing Director between 1995 and 1997. He continued to gain international experience between 1998 and 1999, as Vice President of Marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
for Land Rover North America. He then left Land Rover to become Head of Operations, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles , , is a German manufacturer of commercial vehicles. Originally part of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars company, it is now a separate brand and marque of the Volkswagen Group....
from 1999 to 2001, before being lured back by the attractions of Land Rover’s UK Sales Directorship. Two years of record sales and profits
Profit (accounting)
In accounting, profit can be considered to be the difference between the purchase price and the costs of bringing to market whatever it is that is accounted as an enterprise in terms of the component costs of delivered goods and/or services and any operating or other expenses.-Definition:There are...
helped propel him to appointment as Managing Director Jaguar and Land Rover (UK) in March 2003. A promotion to Director of Global Operations for Land Rover followed in February 2006, leading almost immediately (April 2006) to his being elevated to the Managing Director role. As he said at the time “it is a great honour and challenge to take the helm of such an iconic brand”
Achievements
Popham has presided over a major UK-based automotive success story. Land Rover has sold more than four million vehicleVehicle
A vehicle is a device that is designed or used to transport people or cargo. Most often vehicles are manufactured, such as bicycles, cars, motorcycles, trains, ships, boats, and aircraft....
s since its inception in 1948, but never so extensively or in such volumes as now. The company employs 10,000 workers (and supports a further 40,000 in the extended supply chain
Supply chain
A supply chain is a system of organizations, people, technology, activities, information and resources involved in moving a product or service from supplier to customer. Supply chain activities transform natural resources, raw materials and components into a finished product that is delivered to...
). Over 70% of models are sold abroad in over 160 countries, with the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
being the company’s largest single market. Popham has also overseen the introduction of “the world’s leading carbon offset
Carbon offset
A carbon offset is a reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide or greenhouse gases made in order to compensate for or to offset an emission made elsewhere....
programme” offsetting all CO2 produced by Land Rover manufacturing (and for UK, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, the Gulf region drivers - the first 45,000 miles on the road). When allied to the introduction of fuel-efficient diesel across the range, Popham notes that “we are as serious about sustainability
Sustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
as we are confident about the continuing relevance and desirability of our vehicles.”
Having witnessed shifts of ownership from BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
to Ford
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
to Tata
Tata Motors
Tata Motors Limited is an Indian multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Mumbai, India. Part of the Tata Group, it was formerly known as TELCO...
, Popham is on record as saying that Land Rover’s success is self-sustaining. “We are in the middle of a sales phenomenon” he has noted, adding “we are solidly in the black, very profitable and the future looks extremely bright for the brand.”
Personal
Popham is married with two children and lives in WarwickshireWarwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
. In addition to his allegiance to West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
and general passion for football he follows all sports, and enjoys travel.