Jaguar axes UK marketing chief role in restructure

Jaguar, the beleaguered luxury car maker, has axed its UK marketing director role as part of a management restructure.

The move has been prompted by the promotion of Jaguar and Land Rover UK managing director Phil Popham to director of Land Rover’s European operations.

Jaguar and Land Rover, both part of Ford’s Premier Automotive Group, will instead have individual managing directors in the UK.

John Edwards, who was director of overseas operations at Land Rover, becomes the marque’s UK managing director. Land Rover’s UK marketing director, Andy Griffiths, will report to Edwards.

Geoff Cousins, who was director of sales planning for Land Rover and Jaguar, has been appointed as UK managing director for Jaguar.

As part of the reshuffle, Jaguar UK sales and marketing director Gary Langridge has been promoted to director of sales and market logistics for Land Rover and Jaguar. However, he will not be directly replaced, and his sales and marketing responsibilities will now be handled by Cousins. A spokesman says the restructure will give each marque “more focus” because they have separate managing directors, and adds that Jaguar’s structure has been “simplified” by removing a layer.

He denies the move means Jaguar is putting less emphasis on marketing, and says Cousins will have a similar role to Langridge. Marketing and administration manager David Lewis will help Cousins run Jaguar’s marketing operations.

Langridge was appointed as UK sales and marketing director last year, following the retirement of Ian Major (MW May 26, 2005).

The decision not to replace him does not affect global marketing director Stephen Perrin’s position.