Big man leaves a big legacy but looks forward to the future

China Daily reporter Yang Cheng talked with Bob Grace, regional president of Jaguar Land Rover Greater China, in an exclusive interview on his vision for Jaguar Land Rover's development in China during the past five years and his career vision.

What has been the secret to your success in China during the past five years?

The secret to our success at Jaguar Land Rover has always been our team.

During the past five years in China and the past 30 in my career with this company, I have been privileged to work alongside amazing colleagues and dealer partners that have enabled us to thrive.

We couldn't have achieved the success we have since 2010 without the Jaguar Land Rover China family and the high-quality service that they offer our customers.

What are the proudest moments from your time in China?

Let me answer that question two ways - personally and professionally.

Personally, my youngest child was born here in Shanghai, and that is something I will never forget about my time here. Watching my children adapt and grow to love this new culture for them was very rewarding.

Professionally, my Jaguar Land Rover family has also grown. We now have over 450 members and supporting them like I support my own family has always been of the utmost importance to me.

What is the future of the Chinese automotive industry, and in particular the premium sector?

As we all know, the Chinese automotive industry is currently adjusting to new market expectations. Nevertheless, there are many opportunities in the Chinese market that give every car company confidence in their long-term development.

As the market matures, areas such as second-hand cars and expanded sales channels will have greater prominence on the impact in the market.

In April for example, Jaguar Land Rover China opened its first Tmall store, which gives customers a new way to interact with dealers and allows us another way to ensure that we provide the best products and service for our customers.

How do you think Jaguar Land Rover China fits into this future?

Jaguar Land Rover China could not be in better hands as we enter the next chapter of our development.

Mark Bishop and James Hu, who currently lead the IMSS, are fantastic leaders who are extremely knowledgeable about China and will push us to become even more competitive.

They are both right men in the right jobs to lead our amazing team in this market and guide us towards an even brighter future.

(China Daily 07/02/2015 page15)