GreenBkk.com Formula 1 | Virgin strengthen management with new appointments

Virgin strengthen management with new appointments

As they make the finishing touches to their new car which will be launched next week, Virgin have announced they are to reshuffle their management structure ahead of the 2011 season. As part of the reorganisation, the team’s board of directors have made a number of key appointments designed to strengthen the existing management line-up.

Nikolay Fomenko, president of the team’s shareholders Marussia Motors, becomes engineering director and will head up technology programmes, covering race car development, engineering and collaboration with Marussia’s road car programme. Marussia’s UK managing director, Andy Webb, will become the team’s CEO, focusing on the executive management of the business.

“The Board of Directors has reviewed and examined all aspects of the team’s commercial and racing operations during its debut F1 season in order to ascertain what is required to move the team forward quickly and prudently,” explained team chairman Darryl Eales. “The changes announced today, together with Marussia’s wealth of knowledge and experience, provide us with a solid foundation as we enter our second season.

“I believe we are very fortunate to have such depth of commercial and racing leadership as we embark on the next step in our ambitious plans for the team. Moreover, Marussia’s firm commitment will continue to enable us to put in place the right people, resources and infrastructure to ensure the team advances significantly over the next two seasons and beyond. I have no doubt the team can look forward to exciting and rewarding times ahead.”

Former CEO Graeme Lowdon has a new role as the team’s president. Lowdon will remain as the team’s representative on the F1 Commission and will also assume the position of sporting director. Ian Phillips, meanwhile, will become the team’s COO. Phillips has a great deal of experience in similar roles, after spells at Jordan and Force India.

John Booth, who along with Graeme Lowdon and Nick Wirth first founded the team in its original guise as Manor Grand Prix before its debut in 2010 as Virgin, continues in his role as team principal and director of racing. The new MVR-02 car, which will be raced by Timo Glock and Jerome D'Ambrosio this season, will be unveiled at a special event in London on February 7.

Credit: Formula One Administration Ltd (www.formula1.com)