The Coventry University alumnus, who will be awarded an honorary doctorate by the University, is best known for designing the Range Rover Evoque – a vehicle that has played a key role in Jaguar Land Rover’s global growth and success. He followed that with an all new Range Rover Sport and the Range Rover, and more recently the Evoque’s convertible sibling and the new Discovery Sport.
McGovern’s design portfolio also includes the Land Rover Freelander, the MGF sports car, and, while managing design studios for Ford Motor Company in the USA, the rejuvenation of the Lincoln-Mercury brands.
McGovern said: “While travelling the world working at the highest level in automotive design I have never forgotten my Coventry roots, so it is a great privilege to be bestowed an honorary doctorate of arts by Coventry University. It gives me a great sense of pride to be recognised by the city where I was brought up, and my parents would have been very proud.”
Professor Seymour Roworth-Stokes, executive dean of the University’s Faculty of Arts and Humanities, said: “Gerry’s impact and influence on automotive design not only as a profession, but also as a central and emphatic part of a car maker’s entire brand, is unrivalled in the industry.
“His design leadership at Land Rover has played a significant role in making Jaguar Land Rover one of the most successful and noted vehicle manufacturers in the world today, and is ensuring Britain – and indeed the West Midlands – is firmly on the global map for automotive and industrial innovation, where it belongs.”
