Tata Motors MD Karl Slym dies after falling from 22nd floor of Bangkok hotel

Bangkok/New Delhi: Tata Motors Managing Director Karl Slym died on Sunday after falling from the 22nd 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, died after the fall from the hotel in Yannawa district, police were quoted as saying on the website of The Nation newspaper.

Police said they were alerted at 7.45 am that a 'foreigner fell from the 22nd to the fourth floor' of the hotel, the report said.

It was reported that 'police found a suicide note' in his room and his wife was still in shock.

An initial investigation showed Slym checked into the hotel with his wife on January 24 and was scheduled to check out on Sunday, the report said.

Bloomberg quoted a company spokeswoman to say that Slym was staying in Shangri-La hotel when the incident took place. His post-mortem will take place on Monday, the company said without giving more details.

A British national, Slym was leading the company at a time when the auto industry was grappling with prolonged slowdown. He joined the auto major in 2012 as part of a major management overhaul and was responsible for charting the company's strategy to regain momentum in the Indian market.

Expressing condolences 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 a restructuring exercise, Slym last week had announced a voluntary retirement scheme for a section of employees to rationalise costs.

In December, domestic car sales declined 4.52 per cent from a year earlier to 1,32,561 units. Tata Motors' sales fell about 42 per cent to 6,537 units last month. Total sales of commercial vehicles were down 25.53 per cent to 46,757 units.

The company's commercial vehicle sales dropped 45.83 per cent 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 during 2007-11.

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

Condoling death of Slym, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) president Vikram Kirloskar said "we have lost a well-wisher in Karl at a time when the company as well as the industry most needed his global expertise, leadership and guidance."

He had earlier also served as the chairman of SIAM Passenger Car Council. He had also served on the SIAM Executive Committee since 2007 as an elected member.