39. Nick Collins

McLaren Group Holdings has announced a major leadership change as Nick Collins, the current CEO of McLaren Group, steps in to also lead McLaren Automotive. This move follows the departure of Michael Leiters and comes on the heels of a transformative month for the iconic British supercar brand.

Leiters, who took the reins at McLaren Automotive in 2022, played a pivotal role during a turbulent but ultimately progressive period. Under his leadership, the company navigated crucial ownership transitions and recapitalisation efforts. More importantly, he oversaw the launch of several headline-grabbing models, including the 750S, Artura Spider, the futuristic Solus GT, and the exclusive W1. These vehicles not only reinvigorated McLaren’s showroom lineup but also reinforced its identity as a driver-focused, high-performance brand rooted in racing DNA.

His departure coincides with the acquisition of McLaren Automotive by CYVN Holdings, a mobility investment firm backed by Abu Dhabi. CYVN is now steering McLaren into a new era, integrating it with Forseven, its UK-based luxury EV venture. The strategic alignment hints at a future where McLaren will blend its legendary engineering heritage with next-generation electrification.

READ MORE: Nasdaq and Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Unite to Turbocharge Technological Innovation

Nick Collins will now lead this transition, leveraging his experience across McLaren Group operations to align road car innovation with broader company goals. Both Collins and CYVN Chairman Jassem Mohamed Bu Ataba Al Zaabi expressed gratitude to Leiters for his contributions and wished him well in his future endeavours.

This leadership shakeup is more than just a boardroom change—it’s a critical pivot point for McLaren, both on and off the track. With Formula 1 serving as the ultimate testbed for innovation and performance, McLaren Automotive’s future developments are expected to draw even closer ties to its F1 sibling. As the race toward electric performance heats up globally, McLaren’s alignment with a luxury EV vision positions it to stay in the fast lane—wherever the road leads.