Jaguar Land Rover refutes rumors of design boss dismissal

JLR Denies Reports of Chief Creative Officer’s Dismissal

After more than a week of speculation, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has refuted claims that Gerry McGovern, the chief creative officer, was fired from his position at the company. A JLR spokesperson communicated to Automotive News Europe via email, stating, “It is untrue that we have terminated Gerry McGovern’s employment and we do not intend to further comment on speculative stories.”

The spokesperson declined to confirm whether Mr. McGovern is still employed by the automaker, although his designation as JLR’s chief creative officer remains on the company’s official website. The controversy arose from a report by Autocar India on December 3, which cited multiple anonymous sources alleging Mr. McGovern’s dismissal and removal from JLR’s Gaydon design studio.

Despite the lack of an official response from JLR, the credibility of the report was bolstered by Autocar’s accurate reporting on the retirement of former CEO Adrian Mardell earlier this year. Many individuals accepted the news of Mr. McGovern’s departure as factual.

Former employees, speaking to Hagerty in the aftermath of the Autocar India report, characterized Mr. McGovern as an autocratic leader with a penchant for perfectionism and a high turnover rate within the design department. His close relationship with the late Ratan Tata, a prominent figure in the Tata family and former chairman of the Tata Group, reportedly afforded him significant influence within JLR.

Mr. McGovern’s design philosophy, inspired by mid-century modernist principles, emphasized simplicity and minimalism, evident in JLR’s Range Rover lineup and the revived Defender model. His career trajectory, starting at Chrysler and progressing through Peugeot, Rover, and Ford before assuming leadership roles at Land Rover and JLR, underscored his expertise and influence in the automotive design industry.

His unveiling of the Jaguar Type 00 concept in 2024 showcased a bold new design language for Jaguar’s upcoming electric vehicle lineup, signaling a strategic shift for the brand. The appointment of PB Balaji as JLR’s new CEO on November 1, 2025, marked a significant milestone, as he became the first Tata Motors executive to assume the leadership position at the company.