Designer of controversial Jaguar concept fired – report

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) Designer Gerry McGovernThe man who led the design of the controversial 2024 Jaguar Type 00 concept has reportedly been fired as chief creative officer after 21 years at the automaker.

Coach India – based in the same country as JLR owner Tata – reports that the British designer has been fired with “immediate effect” and escorted “from the office” at Gaydon Design Studio in the UK.

Sister publication Autocar in the UK contacted JLR for confirmation, a spokesman responded with “no comment” on Mr McGovern’s status at the company.

The reports come after Tata’s former finance chief PB Balaji became CEO of JLR in November, replacing Adrian Mardell, who left the company for “personal reasons” two years into his three-year contract.

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The news also comes after Jaguar embarked on a dramatic reinvention of the brand, with Mr McGovern – as head of design for all JLR products – overseeing the controversial Type 00 concept and unveiling one of three new, higher quality, all-electric vehicles for the luxury brand.

While Mr Mardell’s exit was seen as a result of the polarizing reception of the Type 00 concept, the end of Mr McGovern’s tenure could also be a result of the concept car and the wider direction of the Jaguar brand.

According to JLR, Mr. McGovern was “responsible for the creative direction and curation of the Range Rover, Defender, Discovery and Jaguar brand house – fundamental to the company’s vision to become creators of the world’s most desirable automotive brands for the most demanding customers.”

Mr McGovern worked at JLR for more than two decades Autocar and described him as a favorite of former Tata Group chairman, the late Ratan Tata, who died in 2024.