Jaguar Land Rover chief joins top business leaders urging Britain to remain in the EU

THE chief executive of Jaguar Land Rover is one of almost 200 UK business leaders to have signed a letter recommending that Britain remain in the EU.

Dr Ralf Speth is joined by other senior West Midlands industrialists such as Phillip Green, chairman of Carillion, Nigel Stein, chief executive of GKN, Dean Finch, CEO, National Express and Sir Peter Rigby, chairman of The Rigby Group.

All have put their names to a letter printed in The Times today which warns that jobs and investment in the UK may be at risk if Britain votes to leave the EU in June’s referendum.

Dr Speth, whose company recently committed to developing a new facility in Slovakia to expand its production capacity, has been joined by other automotive signatories Ian Robertson, a board member of BMW, which has an engine manufacturing facility in Coleshill and the head of McLaren, Ron Dennis.

Other prominent figures to have signed the letter include Apprentice star and former Birmingham City managing director, Karren Brady, who is listed as vice-chairman of West Ham Utd.

The full letter in The Times states:

“The businesses we lead represent every sector and region of the United Kingdom. Together we employ more than one million people across the country.

“Following the Prime Minister’s renegotiation, we believe that Britain is better off staying in a reformed European Union. He has secured a commitment from the EU to reduce the burden of regulation, deepen the single market and to sign off crucial international trade deals.

“Business needs unrestricted access to the European market of 500 million people in order to continue to grow, invest and create jobs. We believe that leaving the EU would deter investment and threaten jobs. It would put the economy at risk.

“Britain will be stronger, safer and better off remaining a member of the European Union.”

However, not all business leaders in the region have signed.

One notable exception is Liv Garfield, chief executive of Coventry-based utility Severn Trent.

She is one of 36 FTSE 100 business leaders to have refused to sign the document. Joining her in opting out are the likes of Barclays, Tesco and J Sainsbury.

Ms Garfield is quoted in The Financial Times as saying: “We think [Brexit] is a matter for the individual voter and aren’t commenting as a company.”

The full list of those signing the letter in The Times is as follows:
•    Nicholas Judd, Founder & Head of Investment, 90 North Real Estate Partners LLP
•    Matt McLaren, Executive Director, Access Ambition Consultancy Services Ltd
•    Tony Fernandes, GCEO, AirAsia and Founder, Tune Group
•    Paul Kahn, President, Airbus Group UK
•    Jacqueline Gold CBE, CEO, Ann Summers
•    Andy Clarke, Chief Executive, Asda
•    Pascal Soriot, CEO, AstraZeneca
•    Sir Adrian Montague CBE, Chairman, Aviva
•    Paul Evans, Group CEO, AXA UK & Ireland
•    Peter Rogers, CEO, Babcock International
•    Sir Roger Carr, Chairman, BAE Systems
•    Saghir Munir, Partner/Director, Baker & Coleman Solicitors Ltd
•    Richard John Carter, Managing Director, BASF plc
•    Ian Baxter, Chairman, Baxter Freight Limited
•    Una Driscoll, Managing Director, Belt up Kidz Ltd
•    Helen Gibbons, Director, Bizlang Limited
•    Dr Ian Robertson, Board Member, BMW AG
•    Helena Boas, Co-Founder, Bodas
•    Bob Dudley, CEO, BP plc
•    Chris Grigg, CEO, British Land
•    Sir Alan Parker, Chairman, Brunswick Group
•    Gavin Patterson, CEO, BT Group plc
•    Sir Mike Rake, Chairman, BT Group plc
•    Christopher Bailey MBE, CEO, Burberry Group plc
•    Sir John Peace, Chairman, Burberry Group plc and Standard Chartered
•    George Iacobescu CBE, Chairman and CEO, Canary Wharf Group
•    Philip Green, Chairman, Carillion
•    Alex Mitchell, Director, Causarma Limited
•    Iain C. Conn, CEO, Centrica
•    Sarah Golding, CEO and Partner, CHI & Partners
•    Christopher Satterthwaite, Chief Executive, Chime Communications Group
•    Laurent Lacassagne, Chairman and CEO, Chivas Brothers
•    Phil Smith, Chief Executive UK and Ireland, Cisco
•    Sonny Leong, Chief Executive Officer, Civil Service College Ltd
•    Stephen Clarke, Partner/Director, CJCH Ltd
•    Ian Breminer, Managing Director, Complete Coffee Ltd
•    Professor Geeta Nargund, Founder and CEO, CREATE Health Limited
•    Tidjane Thiam, CEO, Credit Suisse
•    Cathy Owens, Director, Deryn Consulting Limited
•    Ivan Menezes, CEO, Diageo
•    Peter Callahan, Director, Diamond Dispersions Ltd
•    Seb James, CEO, Dixons Carphone
•    Martha Lane Fox CBE, Founder, Doteveryone and co-founder, Lucky Voice and Lastminute.com
•    Tim Gentles, Chief Executive Officer, Drill Board Worldwide Limited
•    Dame Carolyn McCall, CEO, EasyJet
•    Lindsley Ruth, CEO, Electrocomponents plc
•    Liz Weatherill, Managing Director, Enable2 C.I.C
•    Amjad Bseisu, Chief Executive, EnQuest plc
•    Damien Croft, Director, Esplora Limited
•    Charlie Shaw, Managing Director, Esteiro Business Solutions Limited
•    Adam Shuter, Managing Director, Exact Logistics Limited
•    Roland Rudd, Chairman, Finsbury
•    James Farley, Executive Vice President and President, Europe, Ford
•    Nacho Morais, Director, Frank Consulting Ltd
•    Michael Keegan, Executive Director EMEIA Region, Fujitsu
•    Stewart Wingate, CEO, Gatwick Airport Ltd
•    Mark Elborne, UK CEO, General Electric
•    Nigel Stein, Chief Executive, GKN
•    Hazel Pegg, Director, Glastonbury Online Ltd
•    Richard Gnodde, Co-CEO, Goldman Sachs International
•    Michael Sherwood, Co-CEO, Goldman Sachs International
•    Tom Gosnell, Managing Director, Gosnells Beverages Ltd
•    Juliette Polge de Combret, Director, Green Rendez-Vous Ltd
•    Sir Andrew Witty, CEO, GSK
•    Jenny Halpern Prince, CEO, Halpern
•    David Atkins, Chief Executive, Hammerson plc
•    John Holland-Kaye, CEO, Heathrow
•    Allen Hogan, Managing Director, Hogan’s Cider Ltd
•    Ashley Govier, Managing Director, Hotel Services Group Ltd
•    Stuart Gulliver, CEO, HSBC
•    Douglas Flint CBE, Chairman, HSBC
•    Mark Hutchinson, Managing Director, Hutchinson Aerotech
•    Christian Salbaing, Deputy Chairman, Hutchison Whampoa
•    Julian Smith, Director, I Am Enterprises Ltd
•    David Stokes, CEO, IBM
•    Dan Hydes, Managing Director, Ignite Data Ltd
•    Ralf Speth KBE, CEO, Jaguar Land Rover
•    Mahmood Faiz, Director, James William Estate Agents
•    Jane Field, Owner/Founder, Jonny’s Sister
•    Katharine Pooley, Chief Executive and Owner, Katharine Pooley Interior Design
•    Kelly Hoppen MBE, Director, Kelly Hoppen Interiors
•    Martin Dare-Edwards, Chief Executive Officer, Ketonex Ltd
•    Veronique Laury, CEO, Kingfisher plc
•    Neil Clifford, Chief Executive, Kurt Geiger
•    Ian Walker, Director, LaundryRepublic Ltd
•    Sir Julian Horn-Smith, Advisory Board Member, LetterOne Technology
•    John Nelson, Chairman, Lloyd’s of London
•    Christopher Parker, Managing Director, London and Scottish International Ltd
•    Xavier Rolet KBE, CEO, London Stock Exchange
•    Debbie Wosskow, Chief Executive Officer, Love Home Swap Ltd
•    Tim Allen, Managing Director, M J Allen Group Ltd
•    Jess Burley, Global CEO, M/Six
•    Mark Reynolds, Chief Executive, Mace Group
•    Charlie Cornish, Chief Executive, Manchester Airports Group
•    Martin Lamb, Director, Maple Consulting Ltd
•    Christopher Peer, Managing Director, Maritime House Limited
•    Rick Haythornthwaite, Chairman, Mastercard
•    Ron Dennis CBE, Chairman and CEO, McLaren Technology Group
•    Clare Hornby, Founder and Creative Director, ME+EM
•    Sir Nigel Rudd, Chairman, Meggitt
•    Doug Dooley, Managing Director, MICC & TRM Ltd
•    Byron Dixon, Chief Executive Officer, Micro-Fresh International
•    Kanya King MBE, CEO and Founder, MOBO Organisations Ltd
•    Rana Harvey, Managing Director, Monster Group (UK) Ltd
•    Fraser Smeaton, Chief Executive, Morphsuits
•    Alan Parker CBE, Chairman, Mothercare
•    Dean Finch, CEO, National Express Group
•    Mary Nelson, Director, Nelson Browne Management Ltd
•    Sam Laidlaw, Chairman, Neptune Oil and Gas
•    Miisa Mink, Chairperson, Nordic Bakery Limited
•    Andrew Mitchell, Chief Executive, North East Finance Ltd
•    Geeta Sidhu-Robb, CEO and Founder, Nosh Detox
•    Tim Steiner, CEO, Ocado Group
•    Stuart Rose, Chairman, Ocado Group
•    Christina Richardson, CMO, Openr
•    Charlie Thuillier, Managing Director, Oppo Brothers Limited
•    Pia Marocco, Managing Director, Osborne & Partners
•    Luke Brynley-Jones, Managing Director, Our Social Times Ltd
•    Paul Simpson, Director, Paul Simpson Ltd
•    John Fallon, CEO, Pearson
•    Ayman Asfari, CEO, Petrofac
•    Graham Spencer, Executive Director, Plants for Europe Ltd
•    Scott Rowland, Chief Executive Officer, Precept (UK) Ltd
•    Mike Wells, Group Chief Executive, Prudential plc
•    Steve Wadey, CEO, QinetiQ
•    Mary Quicke, Managing Director, Quickes Traditional Ltd
•    Raman Sehgal, Director, Ramarketing & PR Ltd
•    Sir Peter Rigby, CEO & Chairman, Rigby Group PLC
•    Jan du Plessis, Chairman, Rio Tinto Group
•    Warren East CBE, CEO, Rolls Royce
•    Ben Van Beurden, CEO, Royal Dutch Shell
•    Stephen Hester, CEO, RSA Insurance
•    Michael O’Leary, Chief Executive, Ryanair
•    Alan Clark, CEO, SABMiller
•    Alison Edgar, Managing Director, Sales Coaching Solutions Ltd
•    Nathan Bostock, CEO, Santander UK
•    Shriti Vadera, Chair, Santander UK
•    Caroline Cole, Director, Savoir Faire Accounting Ltd
•    Tori Chilcott, Co-Founder, Scoota
•    Rupert Soames OBE, CEO, SERCO
•    Juergen Maier, UK CEO, Siemens
•    Mark Lyndon, Director, Signature Marketing Limited
•    Simon Barrow, Director, Simon Barrow Associates
•    Melanie Goldsmith, Director, Smith & Sinclair Ltd
•    Jonathan Grubin, CEO, SoPost Ltd
•    Doug Squires, Director, Squires Gear and Engineering Limited
•    Bill Winters, CEO, Standard Chartered
•    Ian Barnett, Director, Surfanic International Ltd
•    Dr Heather McGregor CBE, CEO, Taylor Bennett
•    Ronan Dunne, Chief Executive, Telefonica O2 UK
•    Sara Bell, CEO, Tempus Energy
•    Billy Walker, Managing Director, The Benriach Distillery Company Ltd
•    Daniel Williams, Managing Director, The Bottle Shop (Penarth) Ltd
•    Jay Risbridger, Director, The Green Stationery Company Ltd
•    Sally Greene OBE, Chief Executive, The Old Vic
•    Margo Marrone, Co-Founder, The Organic Pharmacy
•    Rory Curnock Cook, Director, The Profs Tuition Ltd
•    Lady Ruth Rogers MBE, Owner, The River Café
•    Niamh Barker, Managing Director, The Travelwrap Company Ltd
•    John Harries, Proprietor, Three Horseshoes Inn
•    Stephen Weil, Managing Director, TI Partners
•    Bernardo Ivo Cruz, Global Managing Partner, True Bridge Consultancy
•    Peter Long, Supervisory Board Member & former Chief Executive, TUI Travel
•    Olivier Dochez, Chief Executive Officer, Two Guys From Brussels
•    Paul Polman, CEO, Unilever
•    Lucian Grainge CBE, Chairman and CEO, Universal Music Group
•    Kate Unsworth, Founder and CEO, Vinaya
•    Peter Berry, Managing Partner, VIP Labels
•    Tom Mockridge, Chief Executive, Virgin Media
•    Jayne-Anne Gadhia, CEO, Virgin Money
•    Ian Taylor, CEO and President, Vitol
•    Vittorio Colao, CEO, Vodafone
•    Sir Peter Kendall, Director, W J Kendall Contracting Limited
•    Kasim Ali, Director, Waterloo Tea Limited
•    Keith Cochrane, Chief Executive, Weir Group
•    Sir Terence Matthews, Chairman, Wesley Clover
•    Karren Brady, Vice-Chairman, West Ham FC
•    Dr Uwe Kruger, Chief Executive, WS Atkins
•    Rich Clothier, Managing Director, Wyke Farms
•    These individuals have stated they are signing in a personal capacity:
•    Greg Hodkinson, Chairman, Arup
•    Andrew Mackenzie, CEO, BHP Billiton
•    Paul Walsh, CEO, Compass Group
•    Kathryn Parsons, Co-Founder and CEO, Decoded
•    Rupert Pearce, CEO, Inmarsat
•    Richard Reed, Co-Founder, Innocent Drinks and Jam Jar Investments
•    Patrick O’Sullivan, Chairman of ERS Ltd, Lloyds of London
•    Marc Bolland, CEO, Marks and Spencer
•    Karen Blackett OBE, Chairwoman, MediaCom
•    Steve Holliday, CEO, National Grid
•    Gail Rebuck DBE, Chairman, Random House UK
•    Graham Chipchase, Chief Executive, Rexam
•    Dido Harding, Chief Executive, TalkTalk
•    Lloyd Dorfman, President, Travelex
•    Rakesh Sharma, Chief Executive, Ultra Electronics Holding
•    Stefano Pessina, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, Walgreens Boots Alliance
•    Sir Martin Sorrell, CEO, WPP