The Code Whisperer

Geoff Polites, CEO Jaguar & Land Rover. Photo from Autocar

I was reading Top Gear magazine last night and the column by editor Michael Harvey. He was talking about Geoff Polites, CEO of Jaguar and Land Rover who lost his battle with cancer in April (2008). Geoff is creditted with getting Jaguar and Land Rover back on track after Ford bought them in 1988 and 2000, and also managing the sale to Tata earlier this year. Geoff’s career is well documented and everyone who has met him has felt a passion, drive and warmth. Michael Harvey says “I can’t claim to have known Polites very well……But the few times we did meet, he always made me laugh, and I liked that”. It’s a pity, then, that the spellchecker incorrectly changed the spelling of Geoff’s surname throughout the Top Gear column.

Another comment by Michael caught my eye. He was explaining to his 8 year old son that he was upset over Geoff’s death because he considered him a “good boss”. He son asked what a good boss was and Michael explained:

“…someone who recognises the good people, then goes out of his way to create the space those people need to get their stuff done - trusting them, nurturing them, pairing them with others who will challenge them and keeping the idiots off their backs.”

Sounds like a good daily reminder for the management of just about anything.