Tata motors MD karl slym died falling from five star hotel

Bangkok/New Delhi: Tata Motors Managing Director Karl Slym died after apparently falling from a high floor of a five-star hotel in Bangkok where he had gone to attend a board meeting of the company’s Thailand arm.
Slym, 51, seems to have fallen from a higher floor of the hotel in Bangkok, a company spokesperson said, adding that his post-mortem will take place on Monday. The company declined to give more details.
Expressing condolence at the sudden demise, Tata Motors Chairman Cyrus P Mistry said: “Karl (Slym) joined us in October 2012, and was a valued colleague who was providing strong leadership at a challenging time for the Indian auto industry. In this hour of grief, our thoughts are with Karl’s wife and family.”

Slym was visiting Bangkok for a meeting of the Board of Directors of Tata Motors Thailand Ltd, he added.

As part of restructuring exercise Slym last week had announced a voluntary retirement scheme to a section of employees to rationalise costs.

In December, domestic car sales declined 4.52 percent from a year earlier to 1,32,561 units. Tata Motors’ sales fell about 42 percent to 6,537 units last month.

Total sales of commercial vehicles were down 25.53 percent to 46,757 units. The company’s commercial vehicle sales dropped 45.83 percent to 25,738 units.

Before joining Tata Motors, Slym was the executive vice president, SGMW Motors, China (a General Motors Joint Venture). Prior to that, he was president, managing director and board member of General Motors in India between 2007-11.

For over two decades, Slym was with Toyota and General Motors in various positions across geographies.