Print New Lotus Cars boss Matt Windle has a history with the UK sports-car maker of more than 20 years and is seen as a 'Lotus Man.' LONDON -- Lotus Cars has appointed its chief engineer, Matt Windle, to lead the automaker after CEO Phil Popham stepped down. Popham will leave the company at the end of March after less than three years in the post, Lotus said in a statement. The first two projects that Lotus will see through to completion under Windle will be the Evija electric hypercar and a new sports car codenamed Type 131 that will be unveiled this summer.