American businessman Zak Brown will become the new executive director of the McLaren Technology Group next month as the company begins its restructuring process following the departure of CEO Ron Dennis last week.
Brown will work alongside existing COO Jonathan Neale and report to an executive committee made up of McLaren's majority shareholders as they continue to search for Dennis' direct replacement. Brown will start in his role on a yet-to-be-confirmed date next month, with a press release referring to his appointment as "a significant part of a restructuring programme that will align the Group's commercial and strategic operations relating to achieving success in Formula One."
Brown has extensive experience in the commercial side of the sport after founding and running the JMI marketing group that has been closely involved with several sponsorship deals in F1. Earlier this year he was linked to a position with F1's new investors Liberty Media, but ultimately opted to take the McLaren role.
"I'm immensely proud to be joining McLaren Technology Group," Brown said. "I have the utmost respect and admiration for what the business has achieved to date, and I look forward to contributing to the next important phase in its development.
"Having worked closely with McLaren for many years, I've been struck by the talent and ambition of the entire workforce, and I very much look forward to complementing the business's many existing strengths, and building on them to drive future success in everything we do.
"As founder of Just Marketing International (JMI) -- now the world's largest motorsport marketing agency -- I've often worked closely with McLaren as I say, and I've developed some excellent relationships across the company. Together we've delivered some great sponsorship deals, including Johnnie Walker, GSK, Hilton, Lenovo, Chandon and NTT.
"Best of all, in my new role I'll be able to combine my absolute passion with my unparalleled area of expertise -- respectively motorsport and marketing -- while ensuring that the two stay totally aligned."
A new title sponsor is likely to be high on Brown's priority list after Dennis tried and failed to find a replacement for Vodafone over the last three years.
Dennis was put on gardening leave last week after losing out in power struggle with his fellow shareholders. He retains a 25% stake in the company and a seat on the board.