Automotive consultancy appoints F1 boss
The former McLaren Group chief operating officer and chief executive officer of McLaren Racing F1 has been appointed onto the board of Warwick-based automotive design and engineering consultancy Contechs as strategic growth non-executive director.
The appointment of Jonathan Neale comes at an important time for the company as it expands its industry-leading expertise.
With more than 35 years experience working with global leaders in high performance and F1, Neale joins Contechs with a breadth of knowledge to guide and support an expansive global growth strategy.
Having spent more than 15 years in the aerospace and defence sectors, he later became chief executive officer at McLaren Racing, leading the team to its championship win with Lewis Hamilton in 2008. His 21 years with the high performance automotive brand concluded with more than five years as chief operating officer at McLaren Group, guiding the 4,000 employee group through a strategic restructure.
A graduate of Nottingham University, he is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors, a Fellow of the Institute of Engineering and Technology, a trustee of the charity The Foundation for Science and technology, and a visiting Fellow of Edinburgh University School of Medicine and Veterinary Science.
He said: “This is a great time to be joining Contechs as it continues to grow internationally and strengthens its core engineering capabilities. I look forward to bringing my high performance vehicle experience to the team.”
Peter Jarvis, Contechs group chief executive said the appointment would enhance the company’s services to its growing global portfolio of vehicle makers.
“Jonathan’s experience and knowledge as a technology business leader will make a significant contribution to our immediate and future growth,” he said.
He added, “We are expanding our global technology innovation strategy to build on our client base in the US, which includes Ford and VW, and also grow in India and across Europe, with a 24/7 real time service to our clients.”
With bases in Warwick, Basildon, Cologne and Chennai and almost 1000 employees, Contechs is a leading provider of specialist vehicle design and engineering services.
