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Williams has named the McLaren Formula 1 team’s former head of aerodynamics Doug McKiernan as its chief engineer, a role the team describes as a “new project-focused position”.
McKiernan will report to chief technical officer Paddy Lowe, with whom he previously worked at Woking.
He began his career at BAE Systems, where he specialised in wing design and developed expertise in CFD.
McKiernan first joined McLaren in 1999 as an aerodynamics analyst, progressing through the ranks as chief aerodynamicist, head of aerodynamics and latterly chief engineer, before he was placed on gardening leave in late 2014 and stepped down in ’15.
“Since returning to Williams last year, it has become clear that in order help move the team forward we need greater engineering resources,” said Lowe.
“We have already started to make excellent progress, with Dirk de Beer our head of aerodynamics leading an invigorated aerodynamics team.
“The addition of Doug to the senior team, supporting our chief Designer Ed Wood and Dirk in particular, will give us the breadth for more focus on technical strategy, and the optimisation of car architecture across design and aerodynamics.”
McKiernan added: “The team has exciting plans for the future, and it is great to see the work already being done with the aerodynamic and engineering teams to produce the FW41, whilst also looking ahead to future cars as Williams continues its charge to move further forwards on the grid.”