Caterham CEO steps down, VT boss steps in
Sooner than expected, Bob Laishley departs Caterham with immediate effect
It’s been a busy period for Caterham of late. There’s been the opening of a smart new production facility, the introduction of the first turbo engine for the Academy race car, plus a preview of what electrification could offer with the Project V. During that time the entire operation has been led up by Bob Laishley; he was recruited as Chief Strategic Officer in 2021, then occupied the CEO/COO role from June 2022. Now he is to leave the company with immediate effect.
All that’s been said by Caterham of his departure is that Laishley has ‘stepped down’; there’s no word on whether he’s finally retiring, or moving to another business. There’s no comment from Laishley in the brief press release, either. Add to that the fact that PH received a tip off about the former Nissan man’s departure a couple of weeks ago and it does rather seem like it’s an abrupt exit. For the moment, the Dartford day-to-day will be dealt with by Trevor Steel, CFO and Operations Director; Kazuho Takahashi, president and founder of Caterham owners VT Holdings, will have to get some new business cards made up, as Caterham Chief Executive is now being added to his titles.
Takahashi added of the personnel change: “I would like to thank Bob, on behalf of everyone at Caterham, for his work over the last four years. He has played an important role in overseeing the move to our new global headquarters in Dartford and securing the long-term future of our iconic car.”
So that’s that. For the moment, it isn’t clear whether Takahashi will continue as permanent CEO, or if another replacement for Laishley will be sought. We’ll keep you posted. For now, PH wishes Bob all the best in his future endeavours; he was always good company whether at the factory or the track, and, more importantly, he is acknowledged to have made real and lasting changes at a firm he clearly loved. Caterham always felt in good hands with him at the helm; let’s hope that continues long into the future as well.
Arguably Caterham owes much of it's survival to the fact it has remained static while the world has evolved around it.
Best wishes to Bob, regardless. Thank you for steering an awesome company and may they continue to be awesome.
(Photo from Chris Rees' Caterham Seven book)
I used to peer through the chain link fence at weekends, looking at the cars in the yard
I've got a photo of the car somewhere, I'll have to see if I can find it. I paid 995 pounds for it and thought I did well to sell it for the same amount 18 months later - just before prices started shooting up. Oops!
(Photo from Chris Rees' Caterham Seven book)
I used to peer through the chain link fence at weekends, looking at the cars in the yard
I've got a photo of the car somewhere, I'll have to see if I can find it. I paid 995 pounds for it and thought I did well to sell it for the same amount 18 months later - just before prices started shooting up. Oops!
(Photo from Chris Rees' Caterham Seven book)
I used to peer through the chain link fence at weekends, looking at the cars in the yard
I've got a photo of the car somewhere, I'll have to see if I can find it. I paid 995 pounds for it and thought I did well to sell it for the same amount 18 months later - just before prices started shooting up. Oops!
(Photo from Chris Rees' Caterham Seven book)
I used to peer through the chain link fence at weekends, looking at the cars in the yard
I've got a photo of the car somewhere, I'll have to see if I can find it. I paid 995 pounds for it and thought I did well to sell it for the same amount 18 months later - just before prices started shooting up. Oops!
Arguably Caterham owes much of it's survival to the fact it has remained static while the world has evolved around it.
Best wishes to Bob, regardless. Thank you for steering an awesome company and may they continue to be awesome.
Porsche and others are realising full EV is full retard given the EU/UK governments short sighted restrictions on ICE when the infrastructure is nowhere near ready and doesn't look like being. Any maker betting on pure EV is either Tesla or an idiot like Jaguar. Those making the EV rules will be long gone before the full pain of them is felt, it's inevitable there will be a backtrack as the car makers put pressure on them in order to survive by being allowed to sell cars people actually want to buy.
So ironically EVs like Project V may become the niche as the masses aren't ready for EV, though not sure enough people will want an EV sports car if there's an ICE option available either from the same maker or a competitor. Therefore better to be able to offer both.
(Photo from Chris Rees' Caterham Seven book)
I used to peer through the chain link fence at weekends, looking at the cars in the yard
I've got a photo of the car somewhere, I'll have to see if I can find it. I paid 995 pounds for it and thought I did well to sell it for the same amount 18 months later - just before prices started shooting up. Oops!
maybe with the 'new' way of charging and as use for home batterie, it makes it even more interesting, a driving home batterie.
so when you're at home, not using the lovely Project V Caterham, you connect it to your home/solar panels, saves the money for a expensive powerfully home batterie.
then when you are in for a drive, disconnect and drive with the power it has, after your drive simply connect it to your home again and use the batterie as a home off grid batterie to use it for electric power in your home.
which then can also be some sort extra protection against theft, because as soon as the cable is disconnected it gives a signal.
but yeah, they are pure, lightweight, still have winddown windows and a roof and ow, a manual
so a complete 'usable' car.
The 7 has become too expensive and complex with the limited ICE options for power now. Caterham has become too large. Sales goals are too lofty. Potential buyers aged under 45 are raised on video games, not wrenching on things. So the best most extreme shiny thing appeals to them, as long as they don't have to change the oil, they don't know that stuff.
Caterham doesn't need to compete with anyone, just build inexpensive, moderately powered simple Lotus 7 based roadsters. Cat has built itself into a corner as a high end toy for the rich or retired, which gets sold three years later due to the unexpected brutality and vulnerability of 7 driving.
These over complex and expensive 7s drive new buyers to the pre-owned market where they can find a 80-90s 7 that can be dialed in with a screwdriver on the idle mixture screw and a hotter plug.
Ford will make Crossflow blocks. Build a bunch with CNC heads and sell replicas. The spec might just inspire a racing class. Oh, there is one, Formula Ford! Caterham Formula Ford Special edition. It just might get a young man away from Tic-Tok and into some real fun.
Sidelining the the EV 7 until the battery tech will allow for a track car?
Really bad decision. The EV development should continue toward a viable touring 7. Let the owners find ways to squeeze more juice out of batteries. I believe the EV is the best option for the continued existence of the 7 as long as ICE options continue to run out.
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