Mansour Ojjeh
Mansour Akram Ojh (25 September 1952 – 6 June 2021) was a Franco–Syrian entrepreneur born in Saudi Arabia, best known as the owner of Techniques d'Avant Garde (TAG) and for his decades-long involvement in Formula 1 racing.
Early life
The son of French mother Irene and prominent Syrian businessman Akram Ojjeh, Mansour spent much of his childhood in France, attending the American College in Paris. He earned a Master of Business Administration from Menlo College (Silicon Valley) in 1974[1] and studied law at Santa Clara University, preparing to join the family enterprises.[2]
Family
After Mansour’s parents divorced in 1978, he introduced his father to Nahed, daughter of Syrian defence minister Mustafa Tlass; Akram Ojjeh later married Nahed.
Business career
Akram Ojjeh built his fortune through real estate, aviation and lucrative military procurement contracts between France and various Arab states. In 1975 he founded TAG (Techniques d'Avant Garde), a Luxembourg-registered holding company uniting his diverse interests.[3] In 1985 TAG partnered with Heuer to create TAG Heuer, a subsidiary focused on sports watches and chronographs for competition.[4]
TAG Aviation, another TAG subsidiary, provides private aviation services and aircraft management, with offices in Europe and North America; it once owned Farnborough Airport. Ojh also held a 10 percent stake in luxury jewellers Asprey and Garrard. His most notable contribution was steering TAG’s entry into Formula 1.
Formula 1 involvement
Ojh first encountered Formula 1 at the 1978 Italian Grand Prix[5] and saw its commercial potential. TAG began sponsorship with Williams when Saudi enterprises, following royal encouragement, invested in the team.[6] After rival sponsors withdrew, TAG became Williams’ title backer.
Seeking deeper involvement, Ojh proposed to invest in Williams’ engineering, but was rebuffed. McLaren CEO Ron Dennis then invited him to fund Porsche engines for McLaren. A US $5 million investment created TAG-Porsche power units, driving Niki Lauda to the 1984 World Championship.[7] By late 1984, Dennis and Ojh were equal partners in McLaren.
Ojh was instrumental in McLaren’s later engine alliances with Honda and Mercedes, as well as its ventures into IndyCar, NASCAR and the road-car McLaren F1.
Health and death
After battling idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis for four years, Ojh underwent a double lung transplant in late 2013 and recovered through 2014.[8] He died on 6 June 2021, aged 68. McLaren honoured him with a special livery bearing his name at the 2021 French Grand Prix.[9]
References
- ↑ Doing Global Business, Menlo College, accessed 2 July 2017.
- ↑ D. Reece, "The billionaire widow toying with Cordiant", The Telegraph, 13 July 2003.
- ↑ Mansour Ojjeh: the visionary behind McLaren, Revista Car, 23 July 2021.
- ↑ “People: Mansour Ojjeh”, F1 News.
- ↑ Revista Car profile, 23 July 2021.
- ↑ “Frank Williams and Arab petrodollars”, Clarín; “Arab money transforms F1”, El País, August 1979.
- ↑ Pablo Vignone, “From arms dealer to F1 team partner”, 2021.
- ↑ Jonathan Noble, "McLaren shareholder Mansour Ojjeh recovering from lung transplant", Autosport.com.
- ↑ “McLaren delays Xcite launch following death of Mansour Ojjeh”, Bristol Post; “Mansour Ojjeh obituary”, McLaren.com.