JAGUAR XF DESIGNER WINS AWARD

Jaguar's Design Director, Ian Callum has won 'The Walpole Award for British Luxury Design Talent' at the Walpole Awards 2008. Callum was chosen for maintaining the highest standard of British Design Talent through innovation and design, contributing to British craftsmanship in 2008.

Julia Carrick, Chief Executive of Walpole said: “Our award winners exemplify Britain's ability to produce world class talent. We are delighted to recognise Ian Callum and Jaguar's success at the Walpole Awards and Medal of Excellence 2008. Ian Callum joins a prestigious group of previous winners including fashion designers Christopher Bailey and Betty Jackson.

"It is vital that Walpole not only applauds the achievements made by successful established brands, but that it also continues to support the younger, emerging British brands that will help shape the future of the British luxury industry.”

Commenting on his award, Ian Callum said: “I feel honoured to have won this award, particularly from Walpole, which wholly represents the British luxury industry. It is even more gratifying when Jaguar design receives such acknowledgment from outside the car industry.”

After his design stint at Aston Martin, during which he penned the DB7, Ian Callum joined Jaguar in 1999 as Design Director and is responsible for the award-winning XK sports car, voted Top Gear magazine's Car of the Year in 2006 – and the latest addition to the Jaguar model line-up, the Jaguar XF, voted. Ian also led the design teams responsible for Jaguar concept cars including R-Coupe, RD-6, Advanced Lightweight Coupe and the C-XF which was named 'Best in Show' concept by Autoweek at the Detroit Motor Show, 2007.

Every year Walpole hosts an awards ceremony honouring exemplary Luxury Brands and commitment to British Excellence. The prestigious awards ceremony is attended by leading industry experts, high net worth individuals and celebrities.

Walpole is a not-for-profit trade organisation that develops and represents the British Luxury Industry in partnership with over 100 of Britain's most prestigious brands including Claridge's, Jimmy Choo, Burberry and cultural bodies such as the BAFTA, V&A, National Portrait Gallery and VisitBritain.