Mclaren Automotive Communication Team Takes Shape

WOKING, UNITED KINGDOM – October 14, 2009: McLaren Automotive’s global communication team has begun to take shape with the recent appointments of an Events Co-ordinator, Press Officer and Marketing Assistant. The three roles take a global brief and each supported the successful September 9 launch of the first in the range of McLaren Automotive’s high performance sports cars, the MP4-12C.

Leanne Hutchinson joined the McLaren Sales and Marketing team as Events Co-ordinator in the early summer from an agency background, where she was responsible for the global events of a number of premium automotive brands. She said of her appointment: “I am thrilled to be working at McLaren Automotive. We are putting a new car and a new company onto the global automotive map and launching in all major markets around the world. It will be a lot of hard work, but also a lot of fun. Having already investigated a number of major global events since joining it is clear that there is a huge interest in McLaren’s plans, but excitingly, we will deliver those plans in a non-traditional way.”

Dan Connell joined as Press Officer in early September having most recently completed his tenure as Media Relations Manager for MINI UK. He will bring to the role valuable experience in integrated marketing, developing high profile events and digital communications. Connell said: “Joining McLaren Automotive in the week of the launch was a baptism of fire, but it was the best way to start. It has been a real privilege to work for MINI for the last few years, and I hope to take that experience of communicating what is more than just a car to a global audience. I had a great time working on the MINI brand, but having met the team at McLaren and seen the new MP4-12C, I know I’ve just moved up a level.”

Evan Jones moved within the McLaren Automotive team to Marketing Assistant having worked for a number of years on various projects as a product and data specialist. His knowledge of the McLaren Automotive network and product expectations brings a valuable ‘insider’ focus to the new company. He said of his new role: “We’ve got a great team at McLaren Automotive who are really passionate about every project they’ve been involved in, from the F1, to the SLR and now the MP4-12C. What I find really exciting is being part of the team that has the opportunity to communicate all the skill and expertise that shines at McLaren. And being able to support the global network will also be an exciting challenge.”

Hutchinson and Connell report into Mark Harrison, Head of PR; Jones reports into Lianne Daly, Head of Marketing, working closely with her Customer Relationship Marketing and Product teams.

Daly said:"It's great to have Evan on board to complete our highly focussed product marketing and communications team at McLaren Automotive. As with the development of the MP4-12C, we have started with a clean sheet of paper and designed a communications strategy around our potential customers which delivers our brand consistently across relevant channels and invests in personal relationships, not high cost ad campaigns. The individuals in the team have been hand-picked because they have the right skills and attitude to deliver that strategy."

Harrison said: “PR and events will integrate with Marketing and play a major role in communicating McLaren Automotive’s plans and new car launches. Leanne and Dan’s appointments have given us excellent and relevant experience in that respect. But importantly both offer the sort of attitude we are looking for in a team that does not just want to do things in a conventional way. The new car is revolutionary and the way we communicate it and the company will also raise eyebrows.”

The first in the range of McLaren’s high performance sports cars, the MP4-12C, was successfully launched on September 9 to the media and to the consumer through a brand new website. It goes into production in late-2010 and on sale around the world in spring 2011, following a global world tour throughout 2010. Regional directors have recently been recruited in the Middle-East, North America and Europe regions and aim to recruit their respective marketing and PR positions before the end of 2009.