Matthew Taylor has resigned as managing director of Land Rover and will leave the carmaker at Easter, to be replaced by Phil Popham.

Popham, who is currently director of Land Rover European operations, previously served as managing director of Jaguar and Land Rover’s UK operations and was a 2005 AM Rising Stars finalist in the sales category. A Ford insider told AM-online that Taylor plans to take a more senior position outside the motor industry.

The announcement was made to company executives late last week by Jaguar Land Rover chief executive Geoff Polites.

Polites thanked Taylor for 'his crucial role in guiding Land Rover to the real success we are currently enjoying as a business' and added that the company is sad to see him go.