Callum has transformed Jaguar design in the past 20 years. — Reuters
LONDON: Jaguar announced on Tuesday that its legendary design director Ian Callum is to leave his position at the company after 20 years heading up Jaguar Design.
Creative design director Julian Thomson will replace Callum from July 1.
Callum will continue to work with Jaguar as a consultant
Since joining Jaguar in 1999, Callum has built a world-class creative design team, established a new design philosophy and revived the range with award-winning designs.
These include F-TYPE – Jaguar’s first two-seater sports car since the iconic E-type – the XE, XF and XJ saloons, and the marque’s first SUVs – F-PACE, E-PACE and most recently the all-electric I-PACE, which in April was crowned 2019 World Car of the Year, World Car Design of the Year and World Green Car.
Thomson will take over from July 1.
"I came into this role with a mission to take Jaguar design back to where it deserved to be. It has taken 20 years, but I believe I have achieved what I set out to do," said Callum.
"One of my biggest highlights was creating XF because it represented the beginning of a new era moving Jaguar from tradition to contemporary design – it was a significant turning point in our story."
Since joining Jaguar in 2000, Thomson has overseen the development of the design concepts for the entire current product range. He began his career at Ford in Dunton, England, before moving to Lotus, where he became head of design, then chief of exteriors at Volkswagen Group's Concept Design Centre.
