Bill Ford quits, appoints Boeing executive

ltd · 06-09-2006, 07:57 AM

"STRUGGLING US auto giant Ford Motor Company announced today it was naming former Boeing executive Alan Mulally as its new president and chief executive, with family heir Bill Ford keeping the executive chairman post.

Mr Mulally, 61, has been president and chief executive officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes since 2001.

"Mulally led the turnaround of the commercial airplane division of The Boeing Company,'' the US automaker said in a statement.

"He has a record of success in customer satisfaction, manufacturing, product development, labour relations and supplier management.''

The company said Bill Ford, who had been holding the dual position of chairman as well as chief executive since 2001, will remain executive chairman and "will concentrate efforts on strategic repositioning of Ford Motor Company.''

"Let me assure you: I'm not going anywhere,'' Bill Ford wrote in an email to Ford employees.

"As executive chairman, I intend to remain extremely active in the direction of this company. I'll be here every day and I will not rest until a prosperous future for this company is secured.''

The move came as Ford was moving to accelerate its turnaround in the face of widening losses and declining sales in the US market.

Bill Ford said in his email that the turnaround effort "required the additional skills of an executive who has led a major manufacturing enterprise through such challenges before.''

Mr Mulally "also has the personality and team-building skills that will help guide our company in the right direction,'' Mr Ford said.

"Clearly, the challenges Boeing faced in recent years have many parallels to our own.''

Mr Mulally, a Boeing veteran of 37 years, said he looked forward to the challenge of helping Ford regain its former lustre.

"I think the opportunity to work with Bill Ford and Ford Motor Company is the only thing that could have attracted me to a job other than Boeing, where I have so many great friends and memories,'' Mr Mulally said".

Looks like someone who was instrumental in turning Boeing around is now going to try and turn Ford around. I have witnessed some of Alan's genius in the things he did at boeing, like the new 787 that is already profitable before even flying. Looks like good fortunes at Ford in the years to come.

HSE2 · 06-09-2006, 08:46 AM

Interesting news.

**Polyal** · 06-09-2006, 09:06 AM

Jeez thats huge news. Always good to get a new, clean approach though.

drcook · 06-09-2006, 09:48 AM

i was reading an article about bill ford and how he was trying to re-structure ford motor company and turn it around while acting as executive chairman, cheif executive and president.
the man might be a machine but no one person can do all these jobs 100%. he needed help, and now he's got it.

you may want to change the heading for this post though, seeing as bill ford hasnt really quit.

rhysy_boi · 06-09-2006, 10:26 AM

i thought alan mullaly was an ex english cricketer who now lived in perth :P

nah good news i spose, boeing is a very successful company and hopefully he can bring that to ford motor company so we can take over car sales world wide...maybe they can export some of their nice powerful cars this way and vice versa.

Rhyso

XR Martin · 06-09-2006, 10:49 AM

Lets hope Ford Australia isnt on the chopping block...

ltd · 06-09-2006, 10:53 AM

Wonder if Alan will call in some favours for wind tunnel testing, exotic materials as well as suggesting which brand Boeing use as their fleet. On a professional sense though, Alan is an expert in recognising failures within a business and turning them around so I think it would have been a case of once Bill found alan was available, he decided to step down as CEO. On the news I believe the stock price of Ford went up 1.5%.

RPO83 · 06-09-2006, 12:12 PM

There is finally a good operator back in the top spot at Ford.

Iphido · 06-09-2006, 12:22 PM

Definately a good choice. The aircraft industry is a excellent pool for automotive. A lot of technologies orginate from there, simular suppliers, there are a great deal of simular problems.

I got worried when bill took on all the top jobs. Its the sort of crazy thing nutters do before the thing goes completely out of control and tits up.

**TUF_302** · 06-09-2006, 06:38 PM

This is big news, but good tho, hopefully he can turn Ford around as he did with Boeing.

Smoked · 07-09-2006, 12:35 AM

That might expalin why Casper get fuel Economy of a Fully Laden Boeing 747 during power ascent after take off.

johnydep · 07-09-2006, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drcook

i was reading an article about bill ford and how he was trying to re-structure ford motor company and turn it around while acting as executive chairman, cheif executive and president.
the man might be a machine but no one person can do all these jobs 100%. he needed help, and now he's got it.

you may want to change the heading for this post though, seeing as bill ford hasnt really quit.

This the one; http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=35369 Would you buy a new car from this man?

Ohio XB · 07-09-2006, 12:01 PM

I am pretty positive about this news. I have a lot of respect for the man that brought Boeing back. Ok, so now we have the guy that brought Boeing back to work with Mark Fields, the guy who brought Mazda back. Sounds like a good combo to me!

Steve

Dark Horse · 07-09-2006, 07:14 PM

Having read the history of The Boeing Company, Al is quite colourful part of it's history rising through the ranks, being involved with just about all of the commercial airplane projects.

Just think back to 2001, when Boeing was in the doldrums:

-The future of the 747 was uncertain;
-There was the Sonic Cruiser concept that no one wanted;
-The only two commercial aircraft in solid production was the 737 and the 777;
-There was the scandal concerning the 767 Tankers for the US Air Force;
-Labour issues;
-Low morale since Boeing moved it's HQ from Seattle to Chicago.

Boeing was a 'dirty' word back then.

Since Al headed the Commercial Airplanes Division:

-The unprofitable 757 production line closed allowing full focus on the 737 production wind up at the Renton plant which was facing a triple digit order backlog. This line of aircraft has been in production since 1967!

-The 787 is pretty much in its final design and initial construction stages - a worthy 767 replacement. Despite the aviation downturn, this aircraft already has 253 confirmed orders (to put things into perspective the A380 had just over 100 and the 747 just 25). It's got as mentioned advanced composites, has advanced engines, wing, interior and use of electrical systems in lieu of engine bleed air pnuematics that have forced the competing Airbus A350 into a major redesign.

-The 747 now has the new wings, engines, interior and flight systems to continue to serve on as 'Queen of the Skies'.

-The 737-900/ER is now into final certification/entry into service phase - Boeing's baby that stretched now about the size of the 707!

-The 777-200LR/300ER projects, pushing the boundaries for wide body long haul overwater flight on two engines.

One other thing that was duly noted of Al, was that he personally oversaw each and every delivery of a Boeing airliner whilst head of Commercial Airplanes Division.

He pulled off a lot of other things prior to turning Boeing around as well, these were just the main ones within one Division!

I'd liken him to how Geoff Polites turned Ford AU around, and good luck to him.

I too reckon Ford has a bright future.