Exit interview: Williams F1 CIO Graeme Hackland to leave racing team in June

Graeme Hackland has told CIO.com that he’s leaving Williams F1 this June, after nine years at the Grove, Oxfordshire racing team and almost 25 in motorsport.

Hackland joined Williams Racing in January 2014 as the Formula One team’s CIO, having formerly held IT/IS director, head of IS, IT manager, and network roles at Lotus, Renault, and Benetton. He reported to CEO Mike O’Driscoll, who left Williams F1 in December 2020, and had cordial relations with team founder and principal Sir Frank Williams and, more recently, his daughter (and team principal) Claire Williams, prior to the team’s buyout by Dorilton Capital for an undisclosed sum in August 2020.

Williams F1 recently advertised for a new IT director, with Hackland helping to shape the job specification and conduct early interviews. The racing team is looking for the new role to be more focused on operational IT and the organisation may consider an interim IT director until they can find the right candidate for the full-time position.

A changing role

The new role marks something of a departure from Hackland’s remit, which has seen him engage with various parts of the business and influence matters beyond the traditional purview of IT.