Zak Brown

Owner

Zak Brown is the co-founder and co-owner of United Autosports, driving long-term growth with his strategic thinking, decision-making and wealth of motorsport experience.  

Originally from California, Zak travelled the world for a decade as a professional racing driver. During that time, he met co-owner Richard Dean at the Jim Russell Racing School in Donington, sparking a friendship that has spanned more than 30 years.

In 1995, Zak turned his hand to the commercial side of motorsport, founding Just Marketing International (JMI). This specialist agency grew to become the dominant global force in motorsport marketing, closing long-standing sponsorship deals including UBS x Formula One and Crown Royal whiskey x NASCAR. In 2005, Zak was named Promo Marketer of the Year and in 2011, he was inducted into the SportsBusiness Journal Forty Under 40 Hall of Fame. 

Today, Zak is the Chief Executive Officer of McLaren Racing, a force at the forefront of Formula One and a recurring figure on the Power F1 list. Despite his demanding schedule, he continues to be a core part of the United Autosports team, attending as many endurance races and historic events as he can, from Le Mans to Monterey.

When he’s not trackside, Zak continues to indulge his passion for sports, collecting memorabilia and classic cars – many of which are restored by the team at United Autosports HQ in Yorkshire and raced at historic tracks around the world.