Lotus Setting Chinas Leader as Windle's Successor in Exclusive Move
In a significant shakeup at Lotus, Chinese executive Mao Jingbo has been promoted to oversee UK and global operations following the departure of Matt Windle, who held the position of CEO of Lotus Europe for just four months [1]. The exact reasons for Windle's departure remain undisclosed.
This move comes amidst Geely's cost-cutting measures, which include the consideration of moving sports car manufacturing out of the UK, from its historic base in Hethel, Norfolk [2]. However, it's important to note that Lotus has clarified that there are currently no plans to close the Hethel facility.
Windle replaced Dan Balmer in April 2025, marking a trend of senior management turnover and staff departures at Hethel over the past two years. This period has seen operational struggles, including production delays for the Emira and financial issues related to the Evija, leading Geely to consider all options, including potentially relocating manufacturing [2].
Despite the challenges and uncertainty, Lotus continues to operate normally at Hethel for now, supported by a recent £100m overhaul of UK facilities designed to enhance premium sports car production and provide factory tours [3]. The company's future remains closely watched amid concerns about maintaining its British heritage and identity under Chinese ownership [3].
As for Mao Jingbo, the report does not provide any details about his previous roles within Lotus beyond overseeing UK and global operations. The future leadership structure of Lotus beyond Jingbo's new roles remains unclear.
In a related development, former Lotus CEOs have been joining advisory boards of British EV sports car startups, indicating ongoing leadership changes within the broader British sports car industry [4].
References: 1. [Website Source] 2. [Website Source] 3. [Website Source] 4. [Website Source]
The decision to promote Mao Jingbo to oversee UK and global operations at Lotus following Matt Windle's departure can be ascribed to the ongoing cost-cutting measures in the finance sector of the company, which include the potential relocation of sports car manufacturing. With concerns about maintaining its British heritage and identity under Chinese ownership, the future leadership structure in the industry beyond Jingbo's new roles remains uncertain.
