Jaguar Cars is to be headed by a female managing director from next month.

Bibiana Boerio will take-up her post on July 5. Currently finance and strategy director for Ford Motor Company's International Operations, she was Jaguar's finance director from 1995 to 2000.

Mike Wright, who has been Jaguar MD for just over a year, is to become director, market strategy and retail development for Jaguar Land Rover with the brief to speed up development of Jaguar and Land Rover retail and franchise operations.

"Developing a robust retail franchising strategy for Jaguar and Land Rover is an absolute priority for our business growth," says Joe Greenwell, chairman and CEO of Jaguar and Land Rover.

"It is certainly true of our key existing markets in Europe and North America but also for emerging markets like China, where we have enormous potential for the future. Mike's expertise in the field will both add focus to our growth requirements and pace to the implementation of our strategy."

Boerio said she is 'passionate' about Jaguar and its heritage. "I am absolutely delighted to come back. There has been progress in recent times and I look forward to leading the Jaguar team going forward." she says. (Source: Autowired)