Jaguar Land Rover Breaks Silence: “We Did Not Fire Gerry McGovern”

New Delhi, December 18, 2025: Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has officially moved to quash intensive global rumors regarding the sudden departure of its high-profile Chief Creative Officer, Professor Gerry McGovern OBE. In a statement released this week, the luxury automaker took the rare step of addressing social media speculation and news reports, stating categorically that it had not terminated the veteran designer’s employment.

The drama began earlier in December 2024 when reports from several automotive outlets, including Autocar India, claimed that McGovern—the architect of the modern Range Rover and Jaguar’s radical new electric rebranding—had been “sacked” and “escorted from the premises.”

The Official Denials

After nearly ten days of silence that allowed the rumors to reach a fever pitch, a spokesperson for JLR clarified the company’s position.

“It is untrue that we have terminated Gerry McGovern’s employment, and we do not intend to further comment on speculative stories,” the company stated.

Despite this denial, the statement has been described by industry analysts as “incomplete.” While JLR confirmed he wasn’t fired, they notably declined to confirm whether he remains in his active role as Chief Creative Officer or if he has opted for a voluntary exit or retirement.

A Career Built on Icons

Gerry McGovern’s influence on the British automotive landscape is difficult to overstate. Since rejoining the company in 2004, he has been the visionary behind:

• The Range Rover Evoque: The car credited with saving the brand’s finances in the 2010s.
• The Reborn Defender: A massive commercial success that modernized an off-road legend.
• The Range Rover Velar: A masterclass in “reductive” design that earned worldwide design awards.

The “Panthera” Controversy

The rumors of McGovern’s exit coincided with a period of intense pressure for Jaguar. Under the “House of Brands” strategy, Jaguar is undergoing a total reset to become a purely electric, ultra-luxury brand.

The recent unveiling of the Jaguar Type 00 concept car—a minimalist, pink-hued grand tourer—ignited a firestorm of debate. Critics argued the new direction abandoned Jaguar’s racing heritage, while McGovern defended the move as a “complete reset” necessary to save the brand from irrelevance.

Why Now?

The timing of the speculation is particularly sensitive. JLR recently saw a leadership change, with PB Balaji (formerly of Tata Motors) taking over as CEO from Adrian Mardell in November 2025. Speculation suggested the new CEO might be seeking a fresh creative direction to appease critics of the recent rebrand.

For now, McGovern remains listed as Chief Creative Officer on the official JLR website. Whether he is staying to see the first production electric Jaguars hit the road in 2026, or preparing for a graceful “retirement” after two decades of dominance, remains the industry’s biggest unanswered question.