23/01/2018
NEWS STORY
The McLaren Technology Group has announced the creation of a Business Advisory Group which, according to the press release, comprises "12 prominent global business leaders", as the "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," says the release, "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."
First name on the list of 12, which includes Lord Sebastian Coe, is Jaime Bergel, Chairman at Bacardi-Martini SA.
With Martini currently title sponsor at Williams, one has to wonder why the company's chairman is advising a rival F1 team.
Though talk of the drinks company having a clause in its contract with McLaren stipulating that one of the drivers must be 25 - Lance Stroll is 19 and Sergey Sirotkin is 22 - has been dismissed, Bergel's role in a group advising McLaren will surely worry Williams, especially at a time many are questioning the driver line-up for this year.
Other member of the group are Michel Combes (President & CFO, Sprint), Lee Daley (Former CEO, Saatchi & Saatchi), Carl-Peter Forster (Chairman Chemring Plc, Chairman LEVC, Board Member IMI Plc, Volvo Cars Group and Geely Automobile Holdings Group), Jean-Marc Huet (Former Board Member, Formula 1), Blake Irving (Board Director & former CEO, GoDaddy), Rob Kauffman (Chairman, NASCAR Race Team Alliance), Rob Malcolm (Former President, Global Marketing, Sales and Innovation, Diageo), Richard Solomons (Former CEO, InterContinental Hotels Group plc), Greg Spierkel (Former CEO, Ingram Micro) and Keith Weed (Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Unilever PLC).
"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," said Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa, Executive Chairman and Executive Committee principal, McLaren Group. "Their diverse perspectives and experience will provide McLaren with valuable strategic counsel to support the growth of the business and brand."
"I am delighted we have been able to attract and appoint such senior and experienced business leaders," added Zak Brown. "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."