McLaren Technology Group announces Business Advisory Group to help power future success

McLaren Technology Group has announced the creation of a Business Advisory Group comprising 12 prominent global business leaders, as the recently reorganised company shapes its future strategy and priorities.

Working closely with McLaren’s existing senior management team, the group will deliver direct benefit to the business in four key areas: reviewing and contributing to its growth strategy; adding commercial value to its operations via extensive relationships and networks; the provision of insights and expertise through sector specialisms; and engagement with staff and supporting the organisation’s leadership.

The Business Advisory Group represents a cross-section of business sectors, from telecoms to consumer products, automotive to entertainment, finance to advertising, and sport to retail. The group is comprised as follows:

Jaime Bergel

• Managing Director, H.I.G Europe
• Chairman, Bacardi-Martini SA
• Founding Partner, Gala Capital

Lord Sebastian Coe

• President, International Association of Athletics Federations
• Former Chairman, British Olympic Association and Executive Chairman, CSM
• Former President, Organising Committee for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games

Michel Combes

• President & CFO, Sprint
• Former CEO Altice, Chairman & CEO SFR Group
• Former CEO, Alcatel-Lucent

Lee Daley

• Former CEO, Saatchi & Saatchi
• Board Director, RocketSpace
• Global Strategy Director, McCann Erickson

Carl-Peter Forster

• Chairman Chemring Plc, Chairman LEVC, Board Member IMI Plc, Volvo Cars Group and Geely Automobile Holdings Group
• Former CEO, Tata Motors including Jaguar and Land Rover
• Former General Motors Europe President

Jean-Marc Huet

• Former Board Member, Formula 1
• Former Chief Financial Officer, Unilever
• Non-executive director, Heineken and Canada Goose

Blake Irving

• Board Director & former CEO, GoDaddy
• Former Chief Product Officer, Yahoo!
• Vice President & General Manager, Global Cloud Platforms, Microsoft

Rob Kauffman

• Chairman, NASCAR Race Team Alliance
• Former Principal and Co-founder, Fortress Investment Group
• Co-owner, Chip Ganassi Racing

Rob Malcolm

• Former President, Global Marketing, Sales and Innovation, Diageo
• Non-executive director, Hershey
• Senior Advisor, Boston Consulting Group

Richard Solomons

• Former CEO, InterContinental Hotels Group plc
• Board member, Marks & Spencer Group plc
• Former Executive Committee Member, The World Travel & Tourism Council

Greg Spierkel

• Former CEO, Ingram Micro
• Board member – MGM Resorts International, Paccar
• Director, Schneider Electric

Keith Weed

• Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Unilever PLC
• Chairman of Business in the Community International
• President of Advertising Trust

Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa, Executive Chairman and Executive Committee principal, McLaren Group, commented:

“I am certain that our new advisory group, working closely with Zak, Jonathan and our senior management team, will help spur McLaren forward to even greater success. Their diverse perspectives and experience will provide McLaren with valuable strategic counsel to support the growth of the business and brand.”

Zak Brown, Executive Director, McLaren Technology Group, said:

“I am delighted we have been able to attract and appoint such senior and experienced business leaders. The people we have selected are world-class, from a range of business sectors, and enjoy outstanding records in their chosen fields. They share a gift for leadership, an enthusiasm for creative thinking, and a passion for the positive power of sport and technology.”