Thursday 16th July 2009

Lotus Boss Steps Down

Lotus CEO Mike Kimberley to retire at the end of the week

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Kimberley with the Lotus Evora

Lotus boss Mike Kimberley will step down at the end of the week after a career at Lotus that has spanned five decades.

Kimberley, who will turn 71 in August, has said that he is stepping down on doctors’ orders after surgery for a back problem “so as not to jeopardize my long term health”.

The daily running of the Norfolk-based company will be taken care of by an executive committee of the Lotus board until a new CEO is appointed.

Kimberley joined Lotus in 1969, and rose to become chairman of Group Lotus plc after the death of founder Colin Chapman in 1982. Kimberley left Lotus in 1992 and held a number of positions in the global automotive industry, including stints at General Motors and Lamborghini, before returning to Lotus as a member of the board in 2005.

In May 2006 Kimberley was appointed Lotus CEO for a second time. Since then, He’s been credited with turning around the fortunes of the notoriously unstable sports car company, including the expansion of the company’s engineering consultancy operations. Kimberley has also overseen the creation of the critically acclaimed Lotus Evora to market – the first all-new Lotus to come out of Hethel since the first-generation Elise in 1996.

"It is a great shame that Mike's health has forced his departure earlier than any of us would have liked,” said Dato' Syed Zainal, managing director of Lotus's parent firm Proton Holdings. “He has been a great asset to Lotus. He leaves Lotus with our deep gratitude and our very best wishes for his retirement.”

Kimberley said: “It'll be very hard to leave knowing that there are such exciting times ahead but I'll take with me many very happy memories. I want to extend my thanks to the company's shareholder for their unfailing support, my management team and the wonderful staff both at Hethel and at our various operational locations throughout the world. Most of all I want to thank our Lotus customers and loyal fans worldwide for their support over the years."

[edar]

What a real shame. Kimberley has lead Lotus from strenght to strength and it will be a quiet place without him. He is one of the very few true petrol head CEO's. The day would of had to come, but I suppose the shock is that it has come too soon. We'll all miss you Mike. Good luck in you're retirement.

[collateral]

Probably won't be long before some joker pipes up that the back problem was probably caused by climbing in and out of Elises (Elisi?)



eta all the best to the fella

Edited by collateral on Thursday 16th July 15:19

[andy_s]

Seconded, happy retirement & good work!

[i remember]

well done to him!

[peter450]

Not good news he's going really, hopefully they will get someone in who knows what there doing and can build on what look to be promising foundations

[JonRB]

I had no idea Lotus was now under Welsh ownership and had been renamed Llotus. Or perhaps the article didn't go through a spell checker.

Shame Kimberley is stepping down. He seemed to be a steady hand at the helm and has done much for Lotus.

[dandarez]

Who's Shame Kimberley?

(sorry, couldn't resist that!)

Not mentioned but of course Mike was at Jaguar prior to Lotus (apprentice engine design draughtsman) and was appointed project designer for the XJ13 (after the highly talented Derrick White left to work at Cooper.

[Hendry]

Sad news. Lotus always seems a more stable place with Kimberley at the helm.

I hope whomever takes over is up to the job.

[Lawrence5]

Seems some things ARE more important than cars.....

[R.P.M]

A shame he is leaving, but if ever there was a good time, perhaps it is now.

Evora launched, and Esprit development well on track.

Well done that man.

[splodge s4]

Well done that man indeed. At the Esprit meet at Hethel in 2006 I always remember walking through the bar & seeing my wife questioning, no, interrogating MJK about the new esprit 'it better not be just another Elise' she said, he winked & said 'you'll love it'.

He then went on to a Q&A session & I asked about what it was like working with Colin Chapman back in the day. For 20 mins he looked me in the eye & told me all about it, including how Colin sacked him!

[Dodgey_Rog]

I'm shocked, Lotus always thrived under his stewardship and its a shame he couldn't achieve more as it was all looking promising. Wish Mike all the best and a happy retirement, he's bloody earned it!

[LHD]

A well earned retirement for one of the nicest guys i've ever had the pleasure to have had lunch with.

A big goes to Mike for making Lotus a viable business again, not just in car making but in engineering too.

All the best in the future Mike.

[Mobile Chicane]

Sad news. A big thumbs up to Mike for taking the time and trouble to engage with the enthusiast community (so many manufacturers don't) not to mention opening up the test track and factory for the most recent Elise Garden Party. It would be a shame if that were to stop.

[LukeBird]

i remember said:

well done to him!

+1
He seems to have done a remarkable job at Lotus!

[TheBigUnit]

A brilliant businessman and thinker obviously, but more than that he was so enthusiastic about engineering and cars, and open and warm too. Those are qualities you just don't seem to see at the top anymore. Glad this will help his health, but sad to see him going. It shocked me to find out he is 71! His enthusiasm and energy were comparable to someone half his age and made him seem much younger.

[nsmith1180]

A shame to see another boss go, who actually knows what he is talking about. Someone who has been there and done the job he is asking others to do. A great loss for Lotus. Sorry to see him go.

[iggletiggle]

Lotus will not be the same unfortunately.

Well deserved retirement mr kimberly, lets just hope the next in line will be as forward thinking and approachable as he has been..

Good luck in the future!

[pagani1]

One of the greats of the British Car Industry-have a long and happy retirement.

[DJC]

splodge s4 said:

Well done that man indeed. At the Esprit meet at Hethel in 2006 I always remember walking through the bar & seeing my wife questioning, no, interrogating MJK about the new esprit 'it better not be just another Elise' she said, he winked & said 'you'll love it'.

He then went on to a Q&A session & I asked about what it was like working with Colin Chapman back in the day. For 20 mins he looked me in the eye & told me all about it, including how Colin sacked him!

Werent you considered to be just a "temporary" worker until Chapman had sacked you at least once though during the Golden Years? Being sacked by CC was a right of passage!