15. Zak Brown

Zak Brown is an American businessman and former professional race car driver born on November 7, 1971, and now lives in England.

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As the Chief Executive Officer of McLaren Racing, Zak Brown is responsible for the company’s strategic direction, operational performance, marketing, and commercial growth. Zak is responsible for directing McLaren’s commitment and involvement in professional racing, with the McLaren Formula 1 team as its flagship. McLaren, which operates at the pinnacle of global motorsport, utilizes competition to drive innovation and create group-wide synergies.

Born and raised in California, Zak Brown raced competitively in motorsports for eleven years before establishing his business and commercial talents. He founded Just Marketing International (JMI) in 1995, quickly becoming the world’s biggest racing marketing firm. Brown was appointed CEO of JMI after CSM, a branch of Chime Communications Limited, purchased the company in 2013. In order to concentrate on his duties with McLaren, he gave up that position in the winter of 2016.

Brown has been recognized by a number of industry organizations and publications, such as the Paddock Magazine F1 Power List and his inclusion into the Sports Business Journal “Forty Under 40” Hall of Fame, where he has been listed three times. JMI has had five appearances on Inc. Magazine’s “Inc 500” annual list of the 500 fastest-growing private firms in the United States. He was named Promo Marketer of the Year by PROMO Magazine.

Brown is a co-founder and co-owner of United Autosports, a professional team competing in historic and international sportscar racing competitions. Through United, he co-owns the Supercars Championship team Walkinshaw Andretti United with Michael Andretti and Ryan Walkinshaw and the Extreme E teams Andretti United XE and McLaren XE. Between 2016 and 2019, he acted as the non-executive chairman of Racing Network, the premier worldwide motorsport and automotive digital platform.

Brown is an ardent collector of historical papers, sporting memorabilia, and road and racing cars. He is married, has two boys named McGuire and Maxwell, and resides in Surrey, United Kingdom.