Interbrand chief goes to McLaren

Interbrand UK chief executive John Allert is leaving the agency to take up a newly created role at British Formula 1 group McLaren.

He will be replaced by Rune Gustafson, who was previously a senior partner at Lippincott Mercer and managing director at retail consultancy 20/20.

Allert is becoming group head of branding at McLaren, were he will be responsible for all branding and partnership management across all business units. He also aims to increase brand awareness of the £400,000 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren sports car and the firm’s other technology and electronic sectors.

“McLaren is one of our clients so I’ve got to know them very well over the last two years and know they have certainly got ambitions to match their sporting success with success in branding and marketing their other activities,” says Allert.

Allert started at Interbrand Australia nine years ago, where he was chief executive, before being brought to the UK as chief operations officer in 2003. A year ago he was appointed UK chief executive after Jez Frampton become Interbrand’s group chief executive.

Gustafson has started at the company ahead of Allert leaving at the end of March.

Frampton says: “Rune has a strong passion for clients and people, qualities which go to the heart of our business.”