Robert Wood Johnson has acquired a strategic minority stake in Aston Martin, as announced by the Formula 1 team. Johnson, known as "Woody" in his circles, will join the board of directors as vice-president of the team led by Fernando Alonso on track.
Johnson is an heir to the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical fortune, with a market capitalisation of 651.210 billion US dollars. He previously served in the Trump administration and was US ambassador to the United Kingdom during the Brexit period. He has been an active investor in sports, including owner of the New York Jets since 2000 alongside his brother, and holds equity stakes in football club Crystal Palace.
His stake adds to the leadership of Lawrence Stroll heading the team, along with other key investors such as Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and Ernesto Bertarelli. According to PlanetF1, Johnson's stake is around 15%, though the total amount has not yet been officially revealed. Aston Martin clarified that day-to-day operations of the team will continue under Stroll's direction.
Johnson said he has "great appreciation for Aston Martin from my years in the United Kingdom" and shares "Lawrence Stroll's strategic and business vision". The team highlighted that his experience, track record of successful investments and global connections will strengthen the competitive project.
Stroll said he was "very happy to welcome him", adding that "his experience, passion and investment strengthen us to take the next step in our competitive challenge".
