The designer responsible for the contentious Jaguar rebrand has reportedly been dismissed.

      JLR, edited by the author

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      Gerry McGovern—the influential car designer credited with shaping Land Rover's current aesthetic, the new Defender's design, and most recently, the striking Jaguar 00—has reportedly been dismissed. His influence on Jaguar and Land Rover has been substantial, and his alleged abrupt exit would be a significant event.

      Autocar India reported this development, noting that McGovern's departure “comes swiftly after PB Balaji took over as CEO of JLR on November 17, 2025.” Back in January, the publication also disclosed leaked internal communications suggesting discord within the company regarding the design and rebranding processes. Those documents revealed that some aspects of the Jaguar rebrand were outsourced to Accenture Interactive (external consultants), which could have understandably caused frustration.

      I reached out to a contact at JLR for confirmation, and although the company responded, they chose not to comment.

      McGovern held the position of Chief Creative Officer at JLR. His appreciation for sleek lines can be credited for the modern, smooth appearance of today's Land Rovers. He is recognized for leading the design of the third-generation Range Rover, which many would argue is the last aesthetically appealing Rover (no offense intended), before the brand's subsequent SUVs began resembling mid-range microwaves (again, just my opinion, but one that many share).

      Recently, he has been in the spotlight primarily for advocating the contentious Jaguar rebrand. It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly how much of the high-concept, high-contrast video advertisements stemmed directly from his ideas—a large team contributed to the project—but the luxury car resembling a cartoon Batmobile and the Dyson-style logo design are definitely his creations.

      I shouldn’t need to remind anyone reading this site that the reaction to Jaguar’s complete brand overhaul was, well, quite harsh in online comment sections. How this develops for the business is uncertain, considering Jaguar hasn't resumed sales yet.

      There have been longstanding rumors that McGovern was personally favored by Ratan Tata, the head of JLR’s parent company. With Mr. Tata passing away last year, Autocar India speculates that “key support” for McGovern may have diminished in the absence of the corporate giant.

      However, even for those uninterested in corporate dynamics within the automotive world, this development could significantly impact the companies and the cars themselves. Without such a prominent figure advocating for it, the Jaguar 00, as we've seen it thus far, may struggle against public opinion. While I don't believe Jaguar will completely abandon its newly established direction and identity, I wouldn't be surprised if adjustments are made to appeal to those who prefer traditional Jaguar aesthetics.

      McGovern's exit may also pave the way for a fresh design direction for Land Rover. I would love to see the brand return to boxy, accessory-laden designs, but as I'm not in the market for a new car, I may not be the best judge.

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