Jaguar Land Rover’s Solihull plant director to step down after seven years

ALAN Volkaerts, the man who has overseen the largest expansion of Solihull’s Jaguar Land Rover factory in its history, is to leave his role.

Volkaerts has been Operations Director at the Lode Lane plant for the last seven years; a period in which the company has undergone massive change.

He is to take up a new role at the company’s operation in Gaydon where he will oversee development of new models in the Land Rover range.

In his usual unassuming way he describes the position as “getting into the bowels of the engineering operation”.

His successor at Solihull will be Nigel Blenkinsop, a relative newcomer to JLR having joined the company just three years ago. He was previously Group Powertrain Operations Director, a position which saw him heavily involved in the development of the company £500m Engine Manufacturing Centre at the i54 business park, outside Wolverhampton.

He will assume responsibility for Lode Lane when Volkaerts moves on at the end of the month.

Volkaerts said he was looking forward to his new role but the move was tinged with sadness because he was leaving Solihull at what was a pivotal point in the site’s development.

“It’s been a momentous seven years when I look back,” he said.

“Back when I first started here the industry was in a difficult position and the company itself was at a crossroads – there was even talk of us having to close one of our Midlands factories,” he said.

“When you think about it now that seems incredible, the transition that has taken place here is nothing short of amazing.”

He is right. During the seven years he has been in charge at Solihull JLR has invested more than £1bn into the site. This has seen the introduction of new production facilities for firstly the all new Range Rover and Range Rover Sport and then for the opening of the bodyshop and production line for the Jaguar XE, which is now being followed by the Jaguar crossover vehicle, the F-Pace.

Production volumes have almost trebled over the seven years and the plant’s workforce doubled in size from just over 4,000 to 9,500.

“When I think about what has been achieved in a relatively short space of time it’s amazing,” added Volkaerts.

“My proudest achievement has been to bring Jaguar production to Solihull and I’m sad not to be able to see the launch of the new F-Pace but then I know it will be a success because it’s a great car.

“I shall be sad to go but I would like to wish Nigel all the best and I would like to thank everyone here, especially all the employees for there help and support, and also for their dedication into making this great product.”

While moving to Gaydon, Volkaerts will not be leaving the area completely because he will be staying on in his role with the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership, where is a board member with responsibility for skills development.

“I’ve told (LEP chairman) Andy Street I’m leaving my position at the plant but I want to stay on with the LEP because there is still a lot to be done in this region regarding skills development,” he said.