An insider at Jaguar has hinted that Jonanthan Browning quit his post as managing director of Jaguar because he lost out in a management reshuffle.

His resignation comes after Ford announced that senior management from its three British PAG marques - Jaguar, Land Rover and Aston Martin - would be brought together in a new operating committee led by Land Rover chief executive Bob Dover.

Jaguar is saying officially that he left for personal reasons, but an insider told AM-online: “It's a fair supposition that there was only one top job going and Jonathan didn't get it.”

The insider also said that Mr Browning had told close colleagues at Jaguar of his decision “weeks ago”, but waited to the month-end before leaving.

There is also little information on where Mr Browning will end up. “He's said nothing about whether he plans to stay in the motor industry.”

Jaguar is insisting that Mr Browning's decision has nothing to do with Ford Motor Company announcement on Tuesday that Jac Nasser will step down as chief executive.

Mr Browning is succeeded by Mike Beasley, currently Jaguar's Executive Director responsible for engineering and manufacturing.

William Clay Ford Jr has taken over as Ford's chief exexcutive as part of a wider restructuring at the top, in which former Jaguar boss Nick Scheele becomes chief operating officer. (November 1, 2001)