McLaren Group Holdings completes recapitalization and new board
McLaren Group Holdings Limited (MGHL) today confirmed the expansion of its Board of Directors with the appointment of leaders who bring deep expertise across the luxury, technology and automotive sectors.
The Board of Directors includes the following members:
- His Excellency Jassem Al Zaabi (Group Chairman)
- Luca di Montezemolo
- Her Excellency Mariam Al Mheiri
- Kaj-Erik Relander
- Michel Combes
- Nick Collins
- Paul Walsh
- Pierre-Yves Roussel
- Torsten Gerd Müller-Ötvös
The expansion of the MGHL Board comes after the recapitalization of the McLaren business by its shareholder, CYVN Holdings LLC, the advanced mobility investment vehicle owned by the Government of Abu Dhabi, which enabled McLaren Automotive to fully repay its public bond and outstanding loan facilities.
Together, the nine-strong Board will provide visionary leadership to fuel McLaren’s next chapter, firmly focusing on strategic transformation and the evolution of McLaren into a global leader in high performance luxury vehicles.
About the Board
The McLaren Group Holdings Board oversees the combined business of McLaren Automotive, acquired in April 2025, and CYVN Holdings’ anchor investment in the UK, British luxury start up, Forseven. The Group also includes a non-controlling stake in McLaren Racing and the newly formed McLaren Licensing business.
The Board will set the Group’s long-term strategic direction, with a clear emphasis on disciplined financial planning and investment.
“This new Board represents a pivotal moment for McLaren. Drawing on the depth of experience of our members, we’re not just growing the potential of the McLaren brand — we’re igniting a new era of vision, innovation, and growth, with a level of leadership rarely seen in the automotive industry.”
His Excellency, Jassem Al Zaabi, Chairman of McLaren Group Holdings Limited
“We are shaping a business that reflects where McLaren is going, not just where it’s been. I warmly welcome our new directors to McLaren Group Holdings. Together, we will provide the strategic oversight to support the next phase of McLaren’s bold ambitions, united by the belief that McLaren can be more, can do more and can offer more.”
Nick Collins, CEO, McLaren Group Holdings
McLAREN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED BOARD OF DIRECTORS – BIOGRAPHIES
LUCA CORDERO DI MONTEZEMOLO
Luca served as Chairman and CEO of Ferrari from 1991 to 2014, leading the company to win 19 world titles in motorsport. He also held top leadership roles as Chairman of Fiat Group and Maserati, playing a pivotal role in shaping Italy’s modern automotive industry. In recognition of his contributions, he was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in Detroit in 2015, the industry’s highest international honor.
Luca was also the Executive Chairman, Founding Partner and Shareholder of Italo, the first private high-speed train company in Europe, and founding partner of Itabus, the first private long-distance bus company in Italy, where he served as a Director until April 2023.
MARIAM AL MHEIRI
Her Excellency Mariam Al Mheiri is Group Chief Executive Officer of 2PointZero, a global investment platform focused on building dynamic value networks through diversified investments in technology, renewable energy, and infrastructure. She is also Head of the International Affairs Office at the Presidential Court of the UAE and serves on the boards of First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), Modon, and the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development.
Previously, Her Excellency Mariam served as the UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment and also held the positions of Minister of State for Food Security and Minister of State for Food and Water Security.
KAJ-ERIK RELANDER
Kaj is a board member of McLaren Group Holdings Limited and its parent company CYVN Holdings LLC, the Abu Dhabi-backed investment vehicle. He has spent much of his career in private equity and venture capital, focusing on technology companies. In his early career he had C level operating jobs in the telecom and software domains.
Kaj has been the Chief Investment Officer at Emirates Investment Authority, a General Partner at Accel Partners and the CEO and CFO of Sonera – later part of Telia – the Nordic telecom operator. He is currently also a board director of ADQ, ADGM, Louis Dreyfus and SES satellites.
MICHEL COMBES
Michel Combes is Chairman and CEO of MC Conseil and MC Advisory LLCFZ, and a Partner at Forgelight, focusing on media and consumer technology investments. He serves as member of the Executive Advisory Council of Apollo and is a Senior Advisor to Oddo BHF Group.
Michel also sits on the boards of several public companies, including Philip Morris International, E&, F5 Inc., and Eutelsat, as well as private tech firms like Connect Parent Corporation, ContentSquare, Swile, Polestar, and E-space.
NICK COLLINS
Nick was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the newly formed McLaren Group Holdings in April 2025, having held the role of CEO at Forseven, the CYVN Holdings anchor investment in the UK, since the start of 2024. Forseven integrated with McLaren Automotive in April 2025 as part of the enlarged new Group.
In addition, Nick is a special advisor to its parent company, CYVN Holdings – the Abu Dhabi backed investment vehicle. As part of that role, he sits on the board of NIO Inc, the listed pioneer in the smart electric market, which is 20% owned by CYVN Holdings.
Prior to joining Forseven, Nick sat on the board of Jaguar Land Rover as Executive Director, Vehicle Programs, with responsibility for Product Strategy and Development and previously held senior positions in Ford Motor Company.
PAUL WALSH
Paul Walsh has held the position of Executive Chairman of luxury automotive, motorsport and technology company McLaren Group Holdings and McLaren Racing since 2020. Paul will continue to serve on these boards in addition to the MGHL Board.
Paul brings a wealth of business experience to McLaren having spent over three decades with FTSE 100 listed global premium drinks company, Diageo plc, 13 of those years Paul spent as Chief Executive Officer. He held commercial positions with Inter-Continental Hotels and in the GrandMet food business, becoming CEO of The Pillsbury Company in 1992.
PIERRE-YVES ROUSSEL
Pierre-Yves Roussel is the CEO of Tory Burch, a leading American luxury lifestyle brand. Before joining Tory Burch in 2019, he spent 14 years as Chairman and CEO of LVMH Fashion Group, where he led the global growth of several luxury brands.
Roussel has also served on the McLaren Group board since May 2024, as well as the Jay H. Baker Retailing Center at the Wharton School and LECTRA, the leading technology provider for the fashion and automotive industries.
TORSTEN GERD MÜLLER-ÖTVÖS
Torsten Müller-Ötvös served as CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars from 2010 to 2023, overseeing the transformation from a conventional automotive manufacturer to an International House of Luxury. Under his leadership, the brand doubled its average car price and grew annual sales from 1,000 to 6,000 vehicles in 2023. He spearheaded a 10-year strategy that included full electrification, culminating in the launch of the Spectre in 2023.
Before joining Rolls-Royce, he held senior roles at BMW, including Director of the MINI brand.
A selection of high-resolution images accompanying this release is available to download from the McLaren Automotive media site –cars.mclaren.press
About McLaren Automotive:
McLaren Automotive is a producer of ultra high-performance, lightweight supercars. Launched in 2010, the company is part of McLaren Group Holdings.
Headquartered at the McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) in Woking, Surrey, England, McLaren Automotive is driven by the challenge of creating the world’s most exhilarating, engaging and benchmark setting vehicles. Leveraging over 60 years of history in authentic, racing performance, McLaren has delivered some of the most spectacular supercars ever made.
The company’s product portfolio of GTS, supercar, Motorsport and Ultimate models are retailed in over 40 markets around the world. Its cars are assembled by hand at the McLaren Production Centre (MPC), based on the same MTC campus that is also the home of McLaren Racing.
About McLaren Group Holdings:
Established in April 2025, McLaren Group Holdings Limited acts as the governance umbrella for CYVN’s portfolio and investments in the UK and guides the vision of its shareholder. CYVN Holdings is an advanced mobility operator and investment vehicle based in Abu Dhabi.
McLaren Group Holdings oversees McLaren Automotive, recently combined with CYVN’s anchor investment in the UK, Forseven. The new Group also includes CYVN’s shareholding in McLaren Racing and the newly formed McLaren Licensing business.
With a reputation for innovation and technological excellence, McLaren is one of the UK’s largest independent companies.