M-Sport Ford appoints a new leadership team as a key member steps back

M-Sport Ford announced today that John Steele will step back from his role as the commercial director at the end of this year and a new leadership team will take over.

John Steele was member of M-Sport Ford for 38 years and decided to step back from his role at the end of 2023 as he wants to spend more time with his family. Looking to the future, Malcolm Wilson has taken the opportunity to restructure his company which represents Ford car brand in World Rally Championship for 26 years. During this period, the Cumbrian-based team managed to expand its facilities outside the United Kingdom and to have a factory in Poland. 

The new leadership team will work alongside Wilson who remains the chairman and the owner of M-Sport Ford with the view of the team's evolution in the future. The new leadership team will comprise of existing company director Matthew Wilson, Technical Director Chris Williams, WRC Team Principal Richard Millener, Finance Director Paul McKnespiey and M-Sport Poland board member Maciej Woda – all of whom will now have responsibility for guiding the future success of M-Sport UK. Steele will continue as a director of M-Sport UK until the end of the year and will oversee the transition to the new leadership team. Thereafter he will continue to assist the new leadership team in an advisory role.

"Firstly, I would like to thank John for everything he has done to help build M-Sport into what it is today – it wouldn’t have been possible without him", Malcolm Wilson said.

"As he steps back, the time is now right to progress our succession plan for M-Sport UK and in Matthew, Chris, Rich, Paul and Maciej we have five exceptionally driven individuals with the knowledge and insight to ensure our continued growth and success.  

"We already have a close day-to-day working relationship, and I look forward to continuing and strengthening that over the coming years".

Photo Credits: M-Sport