McLaren CEO Mike Flewitt resigns from the British supercar maker

McLaren Automotive Ltd. CEO Mike Flewitt will abruptly step down after eight years leading the closely held company, which has started a search for a successor.

The Woking, England-based supercar maker said Wednesday that Michael Macht, a McLaren Group non-executive director, will oversee technical and operational functions, while Chairman Paul Walsh will lead sales, marketing and public relations. Flewitt joined McLaren as chief operating officer in June 2012, and became CEO just over a year later.

“I feel incredibly proud to have led McLaren Automotive through most of its first, highly-successful decade and am privileged to have played a part in the incredible McLaren story,” Flewitt said in a statement.