Gerry McGovern lives by design. As Chief Design Officer for Land Rover and a board member of JLR, he is convinced of the ability of design to transform business while enriching people’s lives.

Automotive design is a balance between product and industrial design that is commercially viable. Good design sells and is the gateway to customer desirability.

McGovern is responsible for the design direction and strategy that has transformed the image and the fortunes of the Land Rover brand and taken it from the off road specialist manufacturer to the purveyor of luxury vehicles desired all over the world.

“It’s about recognising our unique heritage but not being harnessed by it, creating relevant vehicle designs that truly resonate with customers on an emotional level.” says McGovern.

It’s this approach that has been behind the creation of a new generation of Land Rover vehicles from the massively successful Range Rover Evoque to the highly luxurious Range Rover SVAutobiography.

Making vehicles that are universally desirable while maintaining the essence of the unique nature of the brand is not a simple task, but it’s one that comes intuitively to McGovern.

“A successful design is one that feels necessary.” he says.