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The Chief Executive of Group Lotus, Mike
Kimberley, announced today that he is stepping
down from his role due to an ongoing back
problem. An Executive Committee comprising
current Group Lotus board members supported by
the shareholder, Proton Holdings Bhd, will
assume day-today control of the business until a
successor is appointed.
Mike, who will be 71 in August, has been
suffering from severe back pain for a number of
months and underwent surgery in late 2008 which
was only partially successful. His doctors have
now advised him to retire so as not to
jeopardize his long term health. Under these
circumstances, the board has regretfully
accepted his resignation.
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Dato’ Syed Zainal, Managing Director of
Proton Holdings Bhd, said: “It is a great shame
that Mike’s health has forced his departure
earlier than any of us would have liked. He has
been a great asset to Lotus over four decades.
Since his return in 2006, we have seen a huge
turnaround in the fortunes of this great company.
He leaves Lotus with our deep gratitude and our
very best wishes for his retirement.”
Under Mike’s leadership, Lotus has produced
the award-winning Lotus Evora, which was
recently launched to the world’s press with
universal acclaim. He has also overseen the
expansion of Lotus Engineering, one of the
world’s most respected high-technology
engineering consultancy businesses. Group Lotus
now has a positive and stable platform despite
the global economic downturn and is delivering
against its defined growth targets in the
company’s strategic business plan.
Mike Kimberley said: “Sadly, it is on
doctor’s orders that I am stepping down but I
will leave confident that Lotus is in great
shape with a strong management team fully
supported by our shareholder in Malaysia. 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.”
Mike will leave Lotus on 17 July 2009.
Mike Kimberley – a Very Brief Resume
Michael J. Kimberley (“Mike”) C.Eng., F.I. Mech.
E., F.R.S.A., F.I.E.D, F.I.M.I has had a
remarkable career in the motor industry over the
last 56 years, working with some of the great
engineers, innovators and leaders of the worlds
motor companies.
Mike started as an apprentice with Jaguar in
1953 before rapidly progressing to becoming in
Section Leader, Special Projects at Jaguar in
1965 where he lead the team developing the
Jaguar XJ13 Le Mans car, under such famous names
as Jaguar founder Sir William Lyons and Jaguar
race director Frank (Lofty) England.
In 1969, he joined Lotus as Manager of
Continuous Engineering, with the Lotus Europa
Twin Cam being one of his most notable projects.
Mike rose steadily but rapidly through the Lotus
ranks, joining the Board of Lotus aged 37, and
becoming Managing Director of Lotus Cars in 1976
and Managing Director of Lotus Engineering by
1980, being responsible for such Lotus icons as
the Esprit, Eclat and Elite.
During the 1970s and 80s, Mike had the unique
experience of having worked closely with the
company’s founder Colin Chapman, with whom Mike
set up the world class Lotus Engineering
consultancy to enable Lotus to work for many
other cars companies around the world. Lotus
Engineering is now a globally recognised high
technology engineering consultancy and serves
many of the world’s car companies.
After Colin Chapman’s tragic and untimely death
in 1982, Mike became C.E.O of Group Lotus plc,
as well as holding board positions with a number
of Lotus associated companies such as Chairman
of Millbrook Proving Ground and President of
Moog Systems Inc. With Lotus under General
Motors ownership, Mike became Chairman of Group
Lotus plc before leaving Lotus in 1992 to become
Executive Vice President (General Motors
Overseas Corporation) based in South East Asia.
Two years later, Mike became director of the
Vector Aeromotive Corporation, and in 1994, he
became President & Managing Director of
Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A, being responsible
for the rebuilding of Lamborghini after
Chrysler’s ownership and prior to its sale to
Audi AG, as part of the VW Group.
In the mid 1990s, Mike left Lamborghini and
worked directly for Tommy Suharto as a board
member of Timor Putra Nasional (owners of
Lamborghini) until retiring with an undiagnosed
tropical fever.
Returning to the automotive industry a few
months later, Mike worked in a consultancy role
for a number of organisations including Tata
Motors Ltd.
In August 2005 Mike was appointed to the Lotus
Group International Limited and Group Lotus plc
Boards as well as other Boards of Proton. He was
appointed acting Chief Executive Officer of
Group Lotus plc in May 2006, confirmed as Chief
Executive Officer of Group Lotus plc in
September 2006.
During his second tenure at Lotus, Mike has been
responsible for the creation and execution of a
new 5 year strategic business plan, and the new,
already award-winning Lotus Evora is the first
of the range of new Lotus cars to be designed,
developed, manufactured and sold by Britain’s
most iconic and innovative sportscar company.
Lotus Engineering has expanded to become a
world-class consultancy employing over 500
highly qualified engineers in five technical
centres around the globe. It is revered for
innovation, outstanding driving dynamics,
exciting niche vehicles and efficient
performance engineering.
Mike (70) is married with 3 children and 3 grand
children and lives in Norwich.
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