Jonathan Neale, a British engineer and business executive, was born on August 19, 1962, in Woking, Surrey, England. He is widely recognized for his remarkable contributions to the automotive and motorsport industries. Neale earned a degree in physics from the University of Nottingham and holds the esteemed title of Fellow of the Institute of Engineering and Technology.
Neale began his career in 1984 at Philips Electronics Defence Systems, where he worked on cutting-edge electronic semiconductor research and software projects. His exceptional skills and expertise led him to join BAE Systems in 1991 as a project design engineer. During his tenure, he worked on a diverse range of commercial and defence projects, spanning functions from engineering, production, flight operations, sales, and customer support.
In 2001, Neale joined McLaren Racing as Operations Director, overseeing critical departments such as technical purchasing, planning, manufacturing, and quality functions. His outstanding performance and leadership earned him a promotion to Managing Director in 2005, a role he held during the team's triumphant 2008 World Championship win with Lewis Hamilton.
In 2016, Neale took on the position of Chief Operating Officer of McLaren Group, encompassing McLaren Racing, McLaren Automotive, and McLaren Applied Technologies. Under his guidance, the organization continued to thrive and expand its operations.
In September 2021, it was announced that Neale would step down as COO and leave McLaren later that year. In November 2021, he joined Filtronic, a manufacturer of RF and microwave equipment, as Non-Executive Chairman, bringing his extensive experience and expertise to the new role.
