Sources inside Jaguar Land Rover have confirmed to Autocar and Autocar India that Gerry McGovern was terminated on Monday with immediate effect. The Coventry native, who served as the brand's chief creative officer, leaves amid a leadership shakeup at the British luxury carmaker.
Details surrounding the decision remain scarce. One source suggested McGovern was "escorted out of the office," though JLR offered no comment when approached, and parent company Tata Motors has yet to respond. The move comes just one week after new CEO PB Balaji previously Tata Motors' finance chief took over from retiring Adrian Mardell, hinting at tighter oversight from JLR's Indian owners.
McGovern's departure ends a storied 21-year tenure filled with landmark designs. He spearheaded the modern Defender's reinvention, sustained the Range Rover lineup's enduring appeal, and guided Jaguar's bold pivot to an electric-only future, including the polarizing Type 00 Concept. His vision also shaped JLR's pivotal 2021 Reimagine strategy.
Before rejoining Land Rover in 2004, McGovern cut his teeth at British Leyland on projects like the MG EXE concept and MGF roadster. A stint at Ford followed, where he led Lincoln-Mercury design from California studios. His contributions earned him Autocar's 2020 Sturmey Award for innovation.
McGovern enjoyed favor with the late Ratan Tata, former Tata Group chairman, and wielded significant boardroom influence. This sudden exit raises questions about JLR's creative direction as it navigates electrification and profitability pressures under new Tata leadership.
