JAGUAR Land Rover’s high-profile design chief has been dramatically removed from his post after a turbulent backlash to the company’s recent rebrand, with insiders claiming he was “escorted from the office”.
Gerry McGovern, the influential creative head credited with shaping the modern Range Rover line-up, is said to have been dismissed suddenly on Monday. Staff were reportedly left stunned as he was asked to leave the company’s Gaydon headquarters under supervision.
According to internal sources, the departure followed months of unrest surrounding JLR’s decision to relaunch Jaguar with a bold new visual identity, including a bright pink logo that sparked widespread criticism from long-standing customers, dealers and employees. The redesign was part of an attempt to reposition Jaguar as a purely electric luxury brand.
The move, which aimed to present a more progressive image, prompted a fierce backlash. One source is quoted as saying: “People hated it.” Another described the atmosphere inside the company as increasingly fraught, saying: “It has been utterly toxic.”
McGovern, 69, has long been one of the most powerful figures at the carmaker and is widely regarded as the architect of its modern design language. He oversaw the creation of the current Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Velar and Evoque, alongside leading the resurrection of the Defender.
His sudden removal comes just weeks after the appointment of new chief executive Adrian Mardell’s successor, PB Balaji, who officially took charge last month. Insiders said the leadership change accelerated scrutiny of recent strategic decisions, with the controversial rebrand becoming a flashpoint.
The company has not commented publicly on McGovern’s exit or the circumstances surrounding it. However, JLR is now expected to reassess the direction of its Jaguar relaunch as dealers continue to report confusion and customer dissatisfaction over the branding shift.
One employee said the departure marked “the end of an era”, adding: “Gerry shaped everything we did. For him to go like this shows how serious things have become.”
McGovern has not yet made a public statement.
Pink Logo: Jaguar’s bold rebrand. Picture – YouTube:@Jaguar
