Walter Hayes

Walter Hayes CBE (12 April 1924 – 26 December 2000) was an English journalist, and later public relations executive for Ford.

Hayes was key in developing Ford's Formula One program, by signing Jackie Stewart and funding the building of the Cosworth DFV V8 Formula One racing engine; and the creation of the Premier Automotive Group with the purchases of classic English brands Jaguar and Aston Martin.

Walter Leopold Arthur Hayes was born in Harrow, Middlesex, the son of a printer. Hayes won a scholarship to Hampton School, and served in the Royal Air Force, where he was a cadet pilot.

After World War II, as the son of a printer Hayes found entry to Fleet Street relatively easy through the network of printing chapels, which controlled newspaper production in the United Kingdom at the time.

Working his way up through the defined path of local, regional and national journalistic work; dedicated pipe smoker Hayes became associate editor of the Daily Mail and in 1956 and at the age of 32, the last editor of the "Sunday Dispatch" newspaper. Looking for something different to revive the motoring column, he was introduced to Lotus Cars owner Colin Chapman, who became an occasion contributor and commentator.

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