Schulp to Prodrive as commercial head.

Prodrive has Tony Schulp as group commercial director, a role which will see the new recruit overseeing the commercial aspects of the company's proposed Formula One programme.

The role is a new one within the Prodrive structure, charging former Haymarket Worldwide chief executive Schulp with the task of overseeing the company's entire commercial strategy. The F1 programme, however, forms just one part of what is a $250 million global motorsport and automotive technology business, and Schulp is under no illusion as to the job in front of him.

"It had to be a very special job to tempt me to leave Haymarket after all this time," he said, "This is a great opportunity to work in the motorsport world at the highest level with a company that I have known and respected for many years."

Schulp will report directly to Prodrive chairman and chief executive, David Richards, and will take up his new role just after the 2007 F1 season starts in March.

"I have known Tony for many years and have always admired his energy and enthusiasm, which has shown in the products that he and his colleagues at Haymarket have created," Richards said, "I believe he is just what Prodrive needs at this important stage in our development, when we are about to embark on perhaps our greatest venture yet, Formula One."