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New Delhi: Jaguar’s recent rebranding hasn’t done well with fans pushing back the brand’s controversial ad campaign as well as the Type 00 concept. Motor enthusiasts haven’t been very supportive of the direction the brand wants to head. Now, the company has reportedly fired long-time design boss Gerry McGovern.
Reports from Autocar and Autocar India said that earlier this week, McGovern was “escorted out of the office”. The brand haven’t given any statement on the recent development. The news comes just a week after the retirement of former JLR CEO Adrian Mardell.
PB Balaji, who takes over the helm, had previously served as finance boss at Tata Motors. Balaji comes with 32 years of experience to the position, with more than a decade working at JLR’s parent company, Tata Motors.
While not much is known about McGovern’s departure, there has been a clear shake-up in the hierarchy owing to the backlash that Jaguar have faced more recently over the rebranding. It is believed by the media that Balaji might be behind the shake-up as the brand tries to keep the authenticity alive as they move to the future.
McGovern leaves JLR after a career that spanned 21 years working with the Jaguar and Land Rover brands. McGovern has been behind some of the most popular vehicles from the brand JLR portfolio, which includes Range Rover Evoque, Range Rover Velas, Land Rover Defender and the modern Range Rover line. McGovern also led the design team of the controversial Type 00 concept.
McGovern started his career with the Austin Rover Group and was responsible for cars like the MG EX-E concept car and the production car MG F sports car, and even the Land Rover Freelander. McGovern even had worked with Ford to help bring back the Lincoln-Mercury brands.
