Former McLaren CEO Michael Leiters is in discussion with Porsche about taking over from Oliver Blume as its CEO.
Following reports earlier today that Blume would step back from leading Porsche to focus on his other role as Volkswagen Group CEO, Porsche has now officially confirmed his "mutually agreed" early exit from the board.
The company has yet to name a successor but says "Michael Leiters, former chief executive officer of McLaren Automotive Limited, is available as a potential successor as chairman of the executive board" - and negotiations are set to begin.
Leiters left McLaren earlier this year after a three-year tenure as CEO, following the British firm's merger with EV start-up Forseven, which saw Nick Collins installed as CEO of the wider McLaren Group Holdings enterprise.
During his time in Woking, Leiters oversaw the launch of the firm's first hybrid supercar, the Artura, the replacement of the 720S with the 750S and the development of the flagship W1 hypercar.
Prior to joining McLaren, Leiters was Ferrari's chief technical officer – a role in which he was heavily involved with the Purosangue SUV programme – and before that he was at Porsche, where he oversaw development of the Cayenne, which has long been one of the company's best-performing models.
Leiters' appointment would confirm reports that Blume's successor had been identified and was an "established" Volkswagen W Group executive with a technical background - Leiters having been at Porsche from 2000-2013.
Blume is set to relinquish his role as chairman of Porsche's executive board from the beginning of 2026.
The move follows mounting pressure over the 57-year-old German’s dual leadership position, with split responsibilities between the Volkswagen Group and Porsche for the past three years, drawing increasing scrutiny from investors and unions.
Blume's tenure at Porsche spans nearly a decade. He succeeded Mathias Mueller in October 2015 before adding the Volkswagen Group CEO role to his responsibilities in September 2022. While he has consistently defended the arrangement, citing benefits from his deep involvement in Porsche's technical operations, critics have grown increasingly vocal.
"The CEO in Wolfsburg cannot be a part-time chief and spend the rest of his time at Porsche. This situation must end," Volkswagen works council chief Daniela Cavallo told employee representatives recently.
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