What is Happening Between JLR and Gerry McGovern?

      JLR, edited by the author

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      Earlier this month, there were rumors that Gerry McGovern, the renowned design chief at Jaguar Land Rover and a key player in Jaguar's contentious rebranding, had been let go. We (along with other outlets) reached out to our JLR contacts to confirm this, but received the standard “no comment,” leading us to suspect that something was amiss. Approximately two weeks later, it was reported that Jaguar claimed it was “untrue” that McGovern had been “terminated.” The timing and language still seem questionable to me. What exactly is happening?

      Over the weekend, Automotive News Europe reported that it received a statement from JLR regarding the executive's supposed dismissal: “It is untrue that we have terminated Gerry McGovern’s employment and we do not intend to comment further on speculative stories.” However, JLR did not clarify whether McGovern is still with the company. As of December 15, Monday morning Eastern time, Professor Gerry McGovern OBE is still listed as Chief Creative Officer on Jaguar’s Executive Team webpage.

      To provide some context: the OBE designation stands for Officer of the Order of the British Empire, which is awarded by the U.K. government to acknowledge contributions in art, science, sports, or charity. McGovern received this honor in 2020 for his achievements in automotive design.

      McGovern is one of the most recognized car design figures in the industry today, and Jaguar's radical shift from traditional to a modern, futuristic aesthetic is among the most significant changes the automotive sector has ever experienced. Even if corporate politics usually don't interest you, the drama between JLR and its creative leader is noteworthy at this time.

      The initial reports of McGovern's termination were fueled by speculation of a rift between him and Jaguar’s new CEO, PB Balaji, indicating that Balaji aimed to remove McGovern soon after taking the helm. Autocar India broke the story with no reservations, followed by us and others commenting on it after JLR chose not to address the situation.

      I can understand when automaker representatives say “no comment on future product” to avoid revealing details about incomplete features or car models. However, you would think they might realize that a “no comment” regarding the status of a prominent, public-facing executive strongly suggests that something is unfolding.

      Since JLR has reportedly stated it won't elaborate on speculative stories, I might as well offer my own speculation. My theory is that the new JLR CEO may have attempted to dismiss or marginalize McGovern, but the design executive could now be responding with possible legal action, prompting JLR to create a narrative that these were merely rumors, either to allow McGovern a more dignified exit or to retain him throughout the Jaguar rebranding process.

      It’s worth noting that terminating McGovern during such a pivotal period for Jaguar’s brand would indeed be quite surprising. Although the minimalist concept car and high-fashion advertising have received mixed feedback, we have yet to see the production version or its pricing, nor has the vehicle had its true market debut. Personally, I’m not a fan, but if JLR manages to sell a significant number (and the market for luxury cars is thriving alongside rising wealth inequality), McGovern may once again be viewed as a visionary.

      We may never fully understand what happened behind closed doors, but this situation has certainly piqued my interest in JLR’s corporate dynamics. Who knows, perhaps the company even initiated the rumor of McGovern’s firing to generate more excitement around the 00 concept car!

      If you have any insider information from JLR’s corporate sphere, feel free to reach out to me at [email protected].