JLR director honoured with top industry award
A SENIOR Jaguar Land Rover executive has been recognised for his contribution to the automotive industry with a top honour.
Ian Harnett, Director of Human Resources and Global Purchasing for the vehicle maker, has been awarded the Institute of Sheet Metal Engineering‘s prestigious Gold Medal, for his service to the industry.
In doing so he follows in the footsteps of some of the automotive industry’s most illustrious names including Mini designer Sir Alec Issigonis, who was awarded the Gold Medal in 1982, and Jaguar Cars CEO Sir Nicholas Sheele, who received the honour in 1996.
Other notable recipients include Lords Heseltine and Digby Jones.
The Institute said Mr Harnett had played an integral part in the growth of Jaguar Land Rover and in his role as Global Purchasing Director he oversaw the distribution of contracts to the supply chain throughout the world.
In addition, he helped guide the suppliers through the highs and lows of the automotive industry fortunes and in doing so had supported business growth and the generation of thousands of jobs in sheet metal engineering throughout the Midlands, the UK and beyond.
Steve Morley, ISME chairman said: “The Gold Medal is presented to influential people within our industry and I’m delighted to say that we had no hesitation in making Ian the 27th recipient of the award.”
The ISME works to promote the science and working of sheet metal to encourage closer co-operation between industry, universities and research establishments.
