McLaren Automotive, the creator of luxury sports and super cars from Surrey, England, has appointed Dr. Jens Ludmann as chief operating officer (COO), effective from May 2. He will report to CEO Mike Flewitt.
Dr. Ludmann joins McLaren in the second year of its Track22 business plan to focus on further developing internal working processes, relationships and disciplines. His departmental responsibilities will include product development, purchasing, supplier quality assurance and manufacturing and overseeing the launch of a further 14 new models or derivatives during the next five years. His previous roles include chief engineer product development at Ford Motor Co., chief technical officer at Qoros Auto and most recently, executive vice president of the global engineering service provider FEV GmbH.
Flewitt said of the appointment, “Jens brings a broad and global wealth of experience from across the automotive industry, having worked in several senior technical and leadership roles. I feel with Jen’s successful track record of managing and developing businesses, creating and enhancing teams and driving profitability, he is absolutely the right person to fulfill the COO role for McLaren Automotive.”
Dr. Ludmann said, “It is a real privilege to be asked to join the leadership team of a company as innovative and exciting as McLaren Automotive. Its rapid rise to success is unparalleled in the automotive world and I can’t wait to be part of the next chapter, which starts now with the launch of the second-generation Super Series. The new 720S is an amazing car, one which I am very much looking forward to driving.”
Cars and driving are both passions of Dr. Ludmann, who holds an International C Race License and regularly competes in the challenging Nürburgring 24 Hours race. He also is currently restoring a 1965 Land Rover Series II.
The COO role at McLaren Automotive has been latent since July 2013 when Flewitt, previously COO from June 2012, was appointed CEO.
