Sales manager appointed for Middle East and Africa

McLaren Automotive has announced the appointment of Ian Hession as its new sales manager for Middle East and Africa. He will support regional director, Ian Gorsuch, as the new car manufacturer gears up for the launch of the first in its range of high performance cars — the MP4-12C — in early 2011.

Hession will be responsible for developing McLaren Automotive’s retail partnerships across the region, while at the same time ensuring that all customers receive the most professional ownership experience possible. In his new role, he will work closely with the company’s regional partners to launch the brand and its debut model.

Hession brings 30 years’ experience at Bentley. For the past eight years he held the title of regional sales manager for the Middle East, Africa and India, during a period of rapid change for the company.

“This opportunity to help launch a new automotive company and range of high end sports cars in the Middle East is mouthwatering, especially as it is one of the world’s most dynamic markets,” said Hession. “The region is renowned for its passion for cars, and McLaren Automotive intends to reflect that passion and stand out from its competitors by offering the best ownership experience as well as the best cars on market.”

The Middle East is one of McLaren Automotive’s key markets, and the company is currently in the process of selecting its regional sales and after sales networks, in each of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, as well as looking at the possibility of establishing a service centre in Lebanon.

The McLaren MP4-12C, which will go on sale in the Middle East in 2011, will be the first in a range of high performance sports cars from the home of the world’s most successful racing car company.

The 12C is destined to be a big hit among the region’s car enthusiasts, and is set to re-write the rules of sports car design through Formula 1-inspired engineering and revolutionary chassis architecture. Its carbon fibre MonoCell structure will offer an absolute focus on performance with efficiency, great packaging, the strongest of safety cells, and the ideal balance of interior space and exterior dimensions.