Rolls-Royce Design Chief Quits

Giles Taylor, who headed Rolls-Royce’s design effort, has left the carmaker.

Rolls-Royce, a part of BMW Group, says Taylor resigned to pursue “alternative” business interests. The company plans to name his successor in coming weeks.

Taylor, 50, had served as Roll-Royce’s design director since 2012. He joined the ultra-luxury marque a year earlier after a 14-year stint at Jaguar. He previously was a designer for PSA’s Peugeot and Citroen brands.

At Rolls-Royce, Taylor oversaw the design of latest Phantom sedan and the Cullinan, which is the carmaker’s first SUV. In recent years he has pushed for a radical new styling to reflect a transition to electrified power.