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Mark drives McLaren marque on Gulf adventure

January 18 - 24, 2012
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Gulf Weekly Mark drives McLaren marque on Gulf adventure

McLaren Automotive has appointed Mark Harrison, its current head of public relations, regional director for the Middle East & Africa.

He will continue evolving McLaren Automotive’s presence in the area following the launch in 2011 of the company’s regional retail network and arrival of its debut model, the MP4-12C.

Mr Harrison said: “This is a fantastically exciting opportunity to move into a role that is at the core of the company’s business, working closely with our retail partners and our customers.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of launching McLaren Automotive to the world’s media as we have grown into a new car company with truly innovative cars, but the rare chance for a PR guy to experience a commercial role out in the market was something I just couldn’t turn down.”

Company executives have already been thrilled and overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of sports car buyers towards the new vehicle and members of the Mumtalakat Holding Company, the kingdom’s investment arm, will be beaming from ear-to-ear too if demand for the car continues to gain momentum.

It has a 42 per cent stake in McLaren Group as well as a 50 per cent stake in McLaren Automotive, and the kingdom is considered a ‘home from home’ by the company based in Woking, in the English county of Surrey.

With a price tag of around BD92,000, Ghassan Abdulrahman Al Sulaiman, president and CEO of Al Ghassan Motors, earlier told GulfWeekly: “I believe we will sell a minimum of 15 cars here in Bahrain – there is immense energy and goodwill surrounding this vehicle.”

Mr Harrison’s appointment follows outgoing regional director, Ian Gorsuch’s move to Singapore as regional director for Asia Pacific.







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