WMG founder and ‘giant’ of manufacturing, Lord Bhattacharyya, has died
Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya, the founder of Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) and one of the driving forces of the Midlands’ manufacturing sector, has died today, aged 78.
Tributes have been paid after the University of Warwick, where Lord Bhattacharyya spent nearly 40 years of his career, confirmed his passing after a short illness.
Aston Martin chief executive Andy Palmer, who had Lord Bhattacharyya as his professor when studying his MSc, described him as “a giant in our industry”.
Lord Bhattacharyya was an academic who founded the Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) at the University of Warwick in 1980 and remained its chairman four decades later. He is widely credited with helping to bring the Jaguar Land Rover under Tata ownership in 2008, which led to the company’s renaissance and a revival of the region’s automotive industry.
“Kumar has been a heroic figure, helping establish in Britain a world-wide reputation for excellence and innovation in advanced manufacturing,” said Business Secretary Greg Clark.
“Through the WMG, which he founded, and through his extraordinary energy and tenacity Kumar encouraged many firms to locate and expand in Britain. Hundreds of thousands of people in Britain owe their livelihoods to Kumar Bhattacharyya.”
Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, added: “No-one has done more than Lord Bhattacharyya for the West Midlands economy over such a long period of time”.
“He lay behind great successes for Jaguar Land Rover and the Warwick Manufacturing Group, and most recently the National Automotive Innovation Centre and the UK Battery Industrialisation were direct results of his hard work and influence.”
Lord Bhattacharyya with Prime Minister Gordon Brown (Credit: WMG)
Sir David Normington, Chair of Council and Pro-Chancellor of University of Warwick said: “He was a force of nature. He pushed at boundaries, he changed lives, he created jobs, and he set the standard for how universities should work with industry.
“Most of all, for so many of us, he was also a kind and generous friend. We shall miss him terribly but here at Warwick he will remain our inspiration for many years to come.”
Lord Bhattacharyya began his career as graduate apprentice at Lucas before gaining an MSc and PhD in engineering production at the University of Birmingham.
In 1980, he became Professor of Manufacturing Systems at the University of Warwick and set up WMG.
It has become one of the world’s top applied research centres, combining academic excellence and global business results.
During the organisation’s lifespan, Lord Bhattacharyya has brokered partnerships, including Jaguar Land Rover’s acquisition by Tata, advised industry and governments internationally and sat on the UK Council for Science and Technology. He is also a Fellow of The Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering.
He was appointed a CBE in 1997, knighted in 2003 for services to education and industry, and made a life peer in 2004.
Lord Bhattacharyya with Jaguar Land Rover chief executive Ralf Speth in 2012 (Credit: WMG)
Jonathan Browning, chair of the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, added: “Lord Bhattacharyya was unique and this is very sad news. The region and, in fact the whole of the UK industry, owes him a huge debt. He was a one-man force of nature who achieved so much for Coventry and Warwickshire, University of Warwick, WMG and the UK.
“The rescue, survival and subsequent success of Jaguar Land Rover can be traced directly back to him and the way he refused to let the company die.”
So so sad to hear that Kumar Bhattacharyya has died. Hugely influential promoter of British manufacturing. A driving force behind Warwick University & its manufacturing centre. And a fellow Labour peer. RIP
— Andrew Adonis (@Andrew_Adonis) March 1, 2019
Warwick’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Stuart Croft said Lord Bhattacharyya’s “service goes far beyond this University”.
“The achievements of WMG, particularly his own wisdom, passion, and advocacy of the importance of manufacturing, technology, research teaching, and training has helped guide regional, national and international leaders, business figures and policy makers,” he said.
“He has helped preserve and create jobs and transform companies, economies, and individual lives, above all in our region. We mourn the passing of a unique man but we also celebrate all that he has achieved and are thankful that those achievements will have a massive impact for years to come.”
Louise Bennett, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, added: “He has been a driving force for industry in the region and, indeed, the whole of UK so this is a major loss.
“His work will live on for many, many years to come and Coventry and Warwickshire will be forever grateful for his vision, energy and drive that has played a major part in our industrial renaissance in recent years.”
Very sad day for @warwickuni and @WMGBusiness, our region and it’s people: Lord Bhattacharyya – here in his ‘element’ – was a person of immense energy and an unsurpassed networker who achieved the extraordinary for UK manufacturing @JLR_News pic.twitter.com/3itTiY5eqr
— Matt Western MP (@MattWestern_) March 1, 2019
The University of Warwick said it was Professor Lord Bhattacharyya’s wish that the University ask Professor David Mullins to become the Acting Head of WMG and he has accepted that role.
