RIP Mansour Ojjeh: Who was key McLaren F1 figure? People react to the death of Mansour Ojjeh. Here’s who he is.
Former Formula One champions McLaren have announced the death of shareholder and key team figure Mansour Ojjeh. But who was the long-standing investor in the Woking-based team?
The 68-year-old was born in 1952 in Paris to a French mother and Syrian-born Saudi Arabian father and was CEO of the TAG Group.
McLaren paid tribute to the “ultra-competitive, determined, passionate” Ojjeh as Zak Brown passed on his condolences to his family
Interest and investment in F1
His interest motor racing was sparked by a visit to the Monaco Grand Prix in 1978, as a guest of the Saudi royal family.
Ojjeh first became involved in Formula One in 1979 when the TAG Group sponsored Williams. He was later enticed to jump ship to McLaren by Ron Dennis in 1984.
Ojjeh would remain close to Dennis throughout the latter’s involvement in Formula One. He would eventually buy some of Dennis’ shares following his controversial exit from McLaren.
The TAG Group own just over 14% of McLaren’s parent company and has been an important figure in the expansion of the team.
Ojjeh was replaced by his son, Sultan, on McLaren’s board a few years ago.
Despite this, he was still a highly-important part of McLaren’s hierarchy.
Personal wealth and business interests: Mansour Ojjeh’s net worth revealed
Mansour Ojjeh’s net worth stands at a reported $3billion. He was the CEO of the TAG Group founded by his late father in 1977.
TAG’s 14% shareholding in McLaren is the second-largest behind Bahrain’s Mumtalakat Holding Company.
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In addition to Formula One, Ojjeh had interests including aviation development, with TAG Aviation as well as being focused on agriculture, real estate, and hospitality.
What was Mansour Ojjeh’s cause of death? Family & health problems revealed
Ojjeh was married to Kathy Mansour Ojjeh and had several children including his son, Sultan, and daughter Sara.
In 2013 he underwent a double lung transplant after a four-year battle with IPF lung disease. He has kept a low public profile after his return to health.
No details have been given so far on Mansour Ojjeh’s cause of death.
