A major shakeup is underway at JLR as the company parts ways with the designer responsible for several of its most recognizable vehicles and a headline-making controversy. Reports from Autocar India state that Gerry McGovern, who stepped into the chief creative officer role in 2020, has been dismissed. Credit for the decision is attributed to P. B. Balaji, the recently appointed CEO.
Balaji arrives in the top job after serving as the Tata Motors group chief financial officer, taking over for Adrian Mardell, who retired last month following a tenure that spanned 35 years with the organization and three years as CEO. His new oversight begins while the company works through recovery efforts from a significant cyberattack that disrupted manufacturing. Jaguar’s delayed $130K electric grand tourer adds to the pressure for strategic changes.
Autocar’s reporting points to McGovern’s influence on Jaguar’s highly debated rebrand, a push that centered on moving to an all-electric roster and introducing premium, low-volume models aimed at brands like Bentley. That strategy aligned with the debut of the bold and polarizing Jaguar Type 00 concept, which became a focal point for criticism and discussion about the brand’s future direction.
McGovern’s latest project may have sparked debate, yet his broader body of work spans decades and includes several key products that shaped Jaguar Land Rover’s modern identity. His contributions extend from the revived Land Rover Defender to influential models such as the Range Rover Evoque and Range Rover Velar, leaving a lasting imprint on both nameplates.
