Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has confirmed earlier reports that it has reorganised its design management team.
First revealed during a Tata Motors earnings call, a company spokesman has confirmed that former creative director at Land Rover Massimo Frascella has given the new title of design director for the 4x4 brand. He changed his social media profiles to reflect the new role last month.
At the same time, Gerry McGovern has been promoted to the role of chief creative officer for the overall JLR operation. Julian Thomson now sits alongside Frascella as design director of Jaguar, with both reporting directly to McGovern.
It's speculated that McGovern’s role could be more of an advisory one, as he turns 65 next year, the mandatory retirement age within the Tata Group. Former JLR CEO Ralf Speth did much the same after retiring this year.
Italian-born Frascella has been at Land Rover for nine years, having joined from Kia in 2011. McGovern had led the brand since 2006 and is credited with designing popular models such as the Range Rover Evoque, Range Rover Sport and, most recently, the reborn Land Rover Defender.
The altered design team roles follow on from a wider executive team expansion announced last week. Nigel Blenkinsop has been appointed to the position of executive director, company quality & customer satisfaction, while Nick Collins, former vehicle line director, is now executive director of vehicle programmes - overseeing all development and lifecycle renewal for both brands.
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Who Ruined the F Type?
Land Rover do need to rethink
Land Rover do need to rethink the Discovery's role. I think they should evolve the Discovery lineup to have a Crossover in it, something conceptually like the old Matra Rancha. The current Discovery Sport and Discovery should be replaced. The Sport should get smaller and be a more direct replacement for the Freelander. The Discovery should also shink but be a more direct if premium rival for the largest 7 seat Kia Sorento.
Range Rover should get a 7 seater at the top of the Range.
Defender should spawn a smaller model fun model for 25K.
McGovern has done a terrific
McGovern has done a terrific job - Evoque Mk1 and 2, the new Defender, the Velar. And contrary to what every fool and his dog says, no, the Defender and Discovery are not the same. They're two distinct vehicles.
Basically continue as is
Discovery, Evoque and Ipace all great looking cars and selling well again. Nice to see an engine range of something other than a maximum of 2.0 and 4 pots which is the way is seems to be going at the moment.