Caterham Group, the parent company of Caterham Cars, Caterham F1 Team, Caterham Composites and CTI (Caterham Technology & Innovation) has today confirmed that Graham Macdonald, previously CFO of Caterham Cars will step up to the role of CEO after current Chief Executive Officer Ansar Ali leaves the business by mutual consent.
Graham has played an active role with Ansar in helping create Caterham Cars into its modern-day guise as a core element of the Caterham Group and will now lead Caterham Cars as CEO.
Ansar will leave his post as CEO after leading Caterham Cars following a management buy-in which assumed control of the business in 2005 from the Nearn family who originally founded Caterham Cars. Ansar oversaw a program which initiated a fundamental shift in the engineering focus of the business, a move which revitalised the legendary Seven range. He also oversaw the long-term stability of Caterham Cars, building on its historic spirit of innovation, entrepreneurial endeavour with a core motorsport base and dedicated to the notion of serving the ‘unserved’, making racecar performance accessible to everyone.
Ansar has now decided to move on to new challenges and Caterham Group thanks him for the integral role he played in building Caterham Cars into a globally respected automotive brand and helping form Caterham Group in its present-day guise. Tony Fernandes, Caterham Group Chairman, said: “I want to take this chance to thank Ansar for everything he has done for the Caterham brand over many years. Without his leadership Caterham Cars would not be the world renowned, profitable business it is today and we would almost certainly not be working under the Caterham name if he had not initiated the discussions with us that led to the enviable position Caterham finds itself in today.
“Now we move on to the next phase of the expansion of Caterham Group and Caterham Cars. Graham is the perfect person to take over and lead the company and his experience and dedication will help us make a smooth transition into the next chapter of the Caterham Cars story.”
Ansar has been a superb ambassador for the brand, the company, and most importantly the team of talented individuals that have made it what it is. Whilst wishing Caterham every success for the future, Ansar will be missed by many. I hope he goes on to achieve great things, a more upright and honest guy you could not hope to meet. (And Ansar, you and Ros are welcome at mine anytime!) DG
Thanks a lot to Ansar! Wishing you all the best in the future, and good luck to Graham.
Cheers from Luxembourg!
Long live Caterham Cars
Ansar- just returned from a break in Spain to find out that you are leaving Caterham. Sorry to hear that you are going. I wish you every success for the future. from Terry at Westbury
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I’m new to the Caterham fold, having only last year bought a used example fulfilling a lifelong ambition of mine & the wife’s (a Kenley girl who walked past the Caterham showroom daily, and even more of a petrolhead than me) and have keenly followed Ansar’s musings. Best of luck to you Ansar, and Graham, I am sure you will propel Caterham Cars to greater heights allowing me to submit to my already strong hankering for, you guessed it, another Caterham!!
Love cars, love caterham – good luck Graham. I don’t own a caterham but have driven them following Graham’s suggestion and loved every minute of it. I think you will do a great job!