11:00 am, October 17, 2013
THINK of a car maker and the chances are it’s owned by an investment firm or a group of individuals that are as far removed from the company’s original founder as it’s possible to be.
But Morgan is different. The business, based in the rolling Worcestershire hills, has always been family-owned and prides itself in operating that way. It has a fiercely loyal fan base and takes pleasure in building cars in a different way. And only in February of this year, the firm topped a list of most recognisable family business names in the UK.
However, the Morgan Motor Company has angered great armies of owners this week by announcing that Charles Morgan has been removed from his position at the firm.
Morgan is the third-generation of the family to have held a director position, but he has now been ousted by the board of directors. He held the position of managing director and more recently strategy director – promoting the British sports car maker around the world.
A statement issued by the car company said: ‘Over recent months, and in response to the growth in volumes, model range and overseas markets, the company structure has been strengthened across a number of different areas. This reflects the scale and complexity of an increasingly global business.’ The release added the ‘changes will help cultivate an exciting future for Morgan which continues to reinforce the unique attributes of the brand’.
Morgan told Autocar that he is ‘no longer involved with the running of the business’ and will ‘appeal the decision’.
We may never really know why Morgan was shown the door from his family’s business, but what is clear is that he isn’t taking the news lying down.
One look at his Twitter feed shows that he has leagues of support from Morgan owners, fans and the general public. His page is full of tweets from supporters, which he has retweeted, and the general mood on the social media platform is one that is unimpressed by the news.
@charlesmorganuk Charles, I feel very strongly that you’ve been a victim of a terrible wrongdoing. Baffling and genuinely absurd decision.
— Chris Shaw (@The_ChrisShaw) October 16, 2013
The family atmosphere at Morgan was what made me want one, without @charlesmorganuk that is lost. Very sad & strange — Andy Sherratt (@andyps1275) October 17, 2013
@charlesmorganuk IS the reason that Morgan owners buy the product. The board has seriously underestimated the impact. — Jon Bowers (@JonBowers4) October 17, 2013
Morgan employees have even taken to Twitter to share their views. Using the Twitter handle @mogemplyees the feed includes tweets such as:
@The_ChrisShaw @speedmonkeycouk @charlesmorganuk @morganmotor the workforce feel their jobs might be threatened while this is going on
— Morgan employees (@mogemplyees) October 17, 2013
@The_ChrisShaw @speedmonkeycouk @charlesmorganuk @morganmotor we do support Charles as we feel the company needs him
— Morgan employees (@mogemplyees) October 17, 2013
It would seem that as management reshuffles go, this one has been badly handled. We don’t know the situation behind the wrought iron gates at the Malvern factory, but outward perceptions of Charles Morgan could only be positive. He’s a colourful figure in the motor industry and (as reported by James Baggott earlier this year) humorously tweeted pictures of new cars debuting at this year’s Geneva Motor Show before their unveilings, angering a number of car companies not least Ferrari.
Do you think the situation has been badly handled or is the family business free to do as it likes regardless of the effect it may have?
Update
Charles Morgan has since issued this statement on his personal blog:
‘As has been widely reported, I have been asked to leave the Morgan Motor Company by the board. It is a sad decision that I am appealing; I remain a major shareholder in Morgan.
‘I’m proud to say I leave with the company’s annual production volumes double what they were at the start of my tenure, with new export markets such as China opened to the company. Morgan remains a small but successful family firm.
‘I’d like to be clear that I am not a tycoon but a family man – I inherited a company not wealth – and unexpectedly leaving its employment will be a hardship for myself and my family. Being asked to leave the company that bears my name is also extremely personally distressing. That is made more painful as today marks 10 years since my father, Peter Morgan, died and I feel him in spirit with me in this dispute.
‘However my primary concern is completely for the company I have spent 30 years helping to build, and specifically for Morgan’s employees, who I hold in the highest regard. I want nothing but success for Morgan Motor Company in the future and remain committed to this goal.
‘I am very grateful for the expressions of support received on twitter and elsewhere, particularly from the employees of Morgan.
‘I will be making no further statements for the time being.’
