Saturday, April 24, 2010

McLaren announces comprehensive restructuring



Fiat and Ferrari aren't the only ones undergoing a comprehensive restructuring as longtime rival (both on and off the track) McLaren has announced a major reorganization of its operations and several management changes.

The biggest shift for McLaren is the split between McLaren Automotive (which will produce the new MP4-12C supercar) and the McLaren Group (which operates the racing team). The roadcar unit is being split off into its own operation, based out of the McLaren Production Centre, which shares its grounds with the McLaren Technology Centre next door.

The two companies will now report to two separate boards, which will in turn be accountable to separate shareholders. But to keep things sufficiently confusing for the rest of us, most of the key players – including executive chairman Ron Dennis, team principal Martin Whitmarsh, CFO Andy Myers, incoming legal counsel Tim Mumane and shareholders Mansour Ojjeh and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Essa al-Khalifa – will continue to serve on the boards for both companies. Richard Lapthorne, who was until now serving as non-executive chairman of the single unit before the split, will be leaving the company. Details in the press release after the jump.