Comment & Analysis
There is no Morgan behind the wheel at Morgan for the very first time
There's been some behind-the-scenes maneuvering at sportscar maker Morgan that are perhaps the pre-cursor to some big management decisions that lay ahead.
The biggest surprise is that Charles Morgan is no longer part of the management team or the board of directors. Charles has been the face of the quintessentially British marque for several years now, having taken over from his father Peter Morgan following his death in 2003. His sudden departure means that there is no Morgan behind the wheel at Morgan for the very first time.
The official press release from Morgan Motor Company claims that the change to the management structure has been an entirely amicable process. But Charles Morgan's Twitter feed suggests otherwise, with him saying that he was 'desperately sad' to be going and then furiously re-tweeting the largely negative reaction to the decision from Morgan aficionados.
I have to say that I am sad, too. I met Charles during a press trip to Morgan's production site in Malvern at the end of last year. He spoke eloquently and passionately about the company and was full of optimism for the future.
But it was obvious that Morgan faced challenges, mainly because it had become a victim of its own success. The factory was bursting at the seams, and the lead-time for new models was running in to many months. Charles Morgan was grappling with how to overcome this, suggesting that other engineering facilities in the West Midlands might be used on a subcontract basis. That begged the question: why not up sticks and start production at a fit-for-purpose greenfield site?
And then there was the issue of overseas manufacture. Many of Morgan's customers are in the US and Far East. Yet Charles recognised that part of Morgan's charm was that it was a British manufacturer, and he wanted it to remain so.
That might not remain the case. A statement from the Morgan Motor Company says that changes to management structure have come about as a result of growth in volumes, model range and overseas markets. “This reflects the scale and complexity of an increasingly global business,” it said.
So it will be interesting to see what direction Morgan the company pursues. Meanwhile, we wish Morgan the man all the very best for the future.