Former Mercedes F1 team CEO Nick Fry will join McLaren Applied marking his return to the sport at the highest level since he was replaced by Toto Wolff in 2013.
Prior to that Fry was managing director at BAR F1 Team and Dave Richards’ Prodrive operation; most recently he headed commercial strategy for esports start-up Fnatic.
Notably, he resurfaces on the scene at the same time old foe Martin Whitmarsh makes a return to the F1 landscape with his appointment as Aston Martin Group Chief Executive Officer of Performance Technologies.
How much Fry will be involved with the F1 operation headed by Zak Brown and team principal Andreas Seidl remains to be seen.
McLaren Applied motorsport motto is: “For over three decades, McLaren Applied has continued to set new standards in high-performance motorsport solutions for the world’s most prestigious series.
“Our team of experts are dedicated to developing high and low voltage electronic systems, and pioneering software to deliver quantifiable performance advantage for teams and drivers. We are the heartbeat of motorsport.”
McLaren Applied today announced the appointment of Nick Fry as non-executive Chairman with immediate effect. Fry is the Former Chief Executive Officer of the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One team and has a long track record in the automotive and motorsports industries including Managing Director positions at both Aston Martin and Prodrive and several senior leadership roles across Ford Motor Company.
Fry represents the first board-level appointment since McLaren Applied was acquired by Greybull Capital in August 2021 and marks a strengthening of the company’s leadership and governance at the start of an important period in McLaren Applied’s development.
Marc Meyohas, managing partner at Greybull Capital commented: “Nick is a recognised leader in both motorsport and automotive, having been deeply involved with both growth companies and large, complex organisations.
“It’s a clear endorsement of the McLaren Applied strategy and roadmap that we can attract an individual of his calibre and expertise. This is going to be an exciting and rewarding period in our development and Nick is going to be a valuable asset to us all.”
Nick Fry added: “I am delighted to be joining McLaren Applied. The company has a clear vision to pioneer a better future across its key markets of motorsport, automotive and transportation.
“I am looking forward to working with this talented team as we launch innovative new technology including high-performance electric powertrains components, connectivity solutions for public transport and new additions to our market-leading range of motorsport products.
“This is going to be a wonderful adventure helping the company achieve the success it richly deserves.”