Rolls-Royce Design Boss Giles Taylor Exits Abruptly

Giles Taylor has run the design department at Rolls-Royce for nearly six years now. Before that, he was its head of exterior design. But now the British luxury automaker is going to need to find a new design director.

The company announced today that Taylor is leaving Rolls-Royce with immediate effect. And he’s not moving elsewhere in the BMW Group, either. All it said was that he’s leaving “to pursue alternative business interests,” so we won’t be surprised to see him named to a similar position at another automaker.

In the meantime, Rolls-Royce says it will announce his successor “in due course,” by which we take it that it doesn’t have a replacement in line yet. But it will likely promote from within the company or the group of which it’s part.

Taylor started his career with five years at the PSA Group before signing as chief designer at Jaguar, where he remained for 14 years. He moved to Rolls-Royce as head of exterior design in 2011, and was made head of overall design in 2012. In the time since, Rolls-Royce has launched the Wraith, the Dawn, the new Phantom, and the Cullinan – all of which have ostensibly been designed (or at least overseen) by Taylor.

He also designed the 103EX concept – also known as the Vision 100, which previewed the future direction in which Rolls-Royce intends to glide serenely. Whoever will take charge in his absence will be charged with designing the next generation of vehicles. That will likely begin with the next-generation Ghost, which is now eight years old.