Ron Dennis - has there ever been a better team manager?
I like Ron Dennis, but I realise a lot of people have a great deal of antipathy towards him. He’s managed to build an amazing business on the back of Formula 1, and I’m sure he’d have done the same no matter what field he had chosen. He has created a team that not only combined technical expertise, but also introduced new management and marketing styles. I know a lot of motor racing people have no time for the management side (a bit like programmers!), but to be a team boss and stay at or close to the top for the length of time McLaren has been there, you need someone who can continuously innovate and manage the world of business.
It looks like he’s on the way out though. Two days ago it was announced that the Bahraini holding company would buy 30% of the team off of Dennis and his partner Ojjeh. Mercedes already own 40% of the team. This leaves Dennis and TAG with 15% apiece.
Even this exit (if it is an exit) tells me a lot about Dennis. He’s heading towards retirement at (close to) the top, and he will retire rich. He has tied a major manufacturer into his team. Contrast to Eddie Jordan who, although I’m sure is still a rich man, saw it pretty much crumble at the end. I fear for Williams and a similar fate.
8 comments January 11th, 2007
