Jaguar Land Rover design chief Gerry McGovern has left the company just days after the appointment of PB Balaji as CEO.
A major shockwave hit the global automotive world today as Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has reportedly dismissed its design boss, Gerry McGovern, with immediate effect. The departure of the veteran designer, who ends a 21-year career with Land Rover and Jaguar, signals a dramatic pivot in the brand’s electrification strategy and direction.
McGovern was the creative lynchpin behind several iconic models that redefined the modern Land Rover. His key contributions include the revolutionary Range Rover Evoque, as well as shaping the reinvention of the Range Rover, Discovery, and Defender. He was also a vocal proponent of Jaguar’s future as a high-priced, low-volume, all-electric ultra-luxury brand.
However, despite these achievements, JLR’s business environment has grown increasingly challenging. Although McGovern once created a sensation with the radical Jaguar Type 00 Concept, the design language-revealing concept reportedly clashed with an advertising campaign that sparked controversy rather than curiosity, contributing to a poor initial reception. More worryingly, the ambitious electric vehicle (EV) relaunch plan for Jaguar has faced high-cost delays, with the first model now only expected to arrive in 2026.
These issues may be the underlying reasons for McGovern’s dismissal, especially with the arrival of a new top-level executive. The appointment of PB Balaji, the former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Tata Motors, as the next JLR CEO signals a heavier corporate focus on cost discipline, restructuring, and portfolio simplification. Balaji, who will take the helm in November 2025, brings a financial and supply chain background that is seen to be in direct contrast with the design-led approach championed by McGovern.
With the appointment of a numbers-focused CEO and the firing of McGovern, the architect of Land Rover and Jaguar EV’s design identity, the company now stands at a crossroads. The question is: will JLR continue to double down on its high-risk, ultra-luxury EV plans, or will Balaji steer the strategy toward a more realistic and profitable direction, especially with the global EV market demand slowing down?
While JLR has yet to issue an official comment, McGovern’s exit is a clear signal that the electric future of Jaguar is undergoing a dramatic shift. The struggle for a clear brand identity during this critical product transition period will be a key focus for global and Malaysian automotive industry observers.
