Ford Australia CEO Bob Graziano set to retire at end of March

[turbo4]

Originally Posted by bigwil

I have been hoping they would sack whoever was in charge of marketing but instead he gets promoted to CEO

I wonder if he will carry over his good work and make the company a successful as the department he used to run.

[Wretched]

who needs to hunt for the perfect CEO. We have so many on this forum.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Wretched

who needs to hunt for the perfect CEO. We have so many on this forum.

Can't be too hard, all I have to do is run the company into the ground by 2016

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Can't be too hard, all I have to do is run the company into the ground by 2016

So you'll do worse, Ford isn't going anywhere.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Wretched

So you'll do worse, Ford isn't going anywhere.

The Falcon and Territory are going somewhere, and same with the boys who build them in Broadmeadows and the boys who build the engines in Geelong.

Originally Posted by Charliewool

Your OH&S policies along with the "wanna we want" chant and fine dining the Union chiefs might just be the answer Damo!
Go for it... I'm good for a reference!

At least I'd have an epic BBQ with beers and strippers with everyone

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

The Falcon and Territory are going somewhere, and same with the boys who build them in Broadmeadows and the boys who build the engines in Geelong.

So the product disappears, the company and rest of the employees remain.
Businesses drop products, close down and lose staff all the time. Mining industry is doing it right now and it will continue to happen, cycle of life. Evolve or die.
Can't keep flogging a dead horse.

[cycle myth]

Gee guys - I would have thought a bit more respect than this.

Senior roles are not easy gigs and even more so in the business environment that Australia has been in - not just for Ford but all local manufacturers.

If you watch the way Bob has handled himself in these tough times and recognised the achievements in these times you might post something more suitable.

Well done Bob.

[Charliewool]

Originally Posted by cycle myth

Gee guys - I would have thought a bit more respect than this.

Senior roles are not easy gigs and even more so in the business environment that Australia has been in - not just for Ford but all local manufacturers.

If you watch the way Bob has handled himself in these tough times and recognised the achievements in these times you might post something more suitable.

Well done Bob.

Oh PLEASE!!!.. Cry me a river.... For 2 mill a year, I'd "handle" meself pretty well too!

[Freiherr]

Originally Posted by Mr Hardware

To quote The Who

"Meet the New Boss, same as the Old Boss"

Yeah, we don't get fooled again!

So he is set to leave on April 1.

[Dr Smith]

What on earth makes you think Bob Graziano had any say in closing down production. Don't forget in Belgium Ford had it's plant closed ending 6000 jobs also resulting in the delay of the new Mondeo by nearly 2 years as problems in shifting to another plant occurred. Ford US can be ruthless when it decides. I think some of the earlier CEO's had more to answer for like Gorman for cutting a diesel Terry back in SY days. There wasn't meant to even be an FG X until the previous Labor Fed government got involved and Ford US and the locals worked a plan.

ps. This has more to do with the actual date for ending locally then anything else on top of declining large car sales.

By November 1, 2016, all new cars, SUVs and light commercial vehicles sold in Australia will have to meet the “full” Euro 5 emissions regulations, regardless of when the new model is launched. These will tighten up the relaxed regulations launched in 2013 and bring all new vehicles up to the same level.
Read more at http://www.caradvice.com.au/122873/a...ODd1CmSRzVm.99

[Mainforcepatrol]

Originally Posted by Polyal

To remind us of who signs the checks. I cannot recall how JP went up the ranks but there are plenty of good Aussie's in their, they get posted to other countries aswell.

Seems Jac Nassers ideas didnt go down well stateside.

[mik]

It would not have made any difference who was steering the titanic, the iceberg breached the hull when gov policy steered our country into a nation of importers decades ago, not only is it to do with trading with other countries, but UN wanted well off 1st world countries(Australia being one) to let x amount of manufacturing go by the wayside.... ie be left for other 2nd /3rd world countries, i believe the % back in those days was 20 %,

It was all in the plan, it is called wealth relocation.

[XR Martin]

Does he have a relative called Francesco Schettino?

[XD 351 Ute]

Originally Posted by mik

It was all in the plan, it is called wealth relocation.

Yep, and it's not over yet...........

Ed

[1TUFFUTE]

Originally Posted by Polyal

Wouldn't be to harsh fellas. The fate of the falcon was set years ago and nothing the ceo could have done to change the direction. Maybe a little more proactive advertising could have slowed the bleeding but the falcon was cooked at FG....let alone now...actually I'd argue even before that.

I agree with this.
And I'll expand, that it's the public and governments policy's that are far more too blame for the demise of falcon and other Aussie cars.

For all those constantly going on about ford advertising......I'd like too see some reputable info that ford expanding(SPENDING) bigger on their campaigns prove they've done the wrong thing. Seriously.....who around here has a degree in international motor car advertising.

There are sooo many models that come and go in the world of cars.
For eg.....the retro Fj landcruiser. Do you think Toyota spends big bucks advertising it once it been confirmed as cut from production.

I may be wrong but I certainly try too see the bigger more realistic side then some people. Whether it hurts or not!
IMHO

[MethodX]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Does he have a relative called Francesco Schettino?

cheap shot....

[Hemihunter]

Bob , dont let the door hit you on the way out! Go have a beer with Ziggy from Telstra and talk about all the good achievements you both made to your organisations. Roll in the next clown !

[csv8]

Originally Posted by Hemihunter

Bob , dont let the door hit you on the way out! Go have a beer with Ziggy from Telstra and talk about all the good achievements you both made to your organisations. Roll in the next clown !

and you can add Allan Joyce..

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by csv8

and you can add Allan Joyce..

Yet QANTAS is now making profits.

[csv8]

Originally Posted by Wretched

Yet QANTAS is now making profits.

Agreed, but its how Joyce has done it that irks me, call centres/maintenance sent overseas. Value of QFF points decreased etc etc..

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by csv8

Agreed, but its how Joyce has done it that irks me, call centres/maintenance sent overseas. Value of QFF points decreased etc etc..

What else could be done? These things are not unique to QANTAS, the company i work for is going through a similar "transformation."
To be competitive not only against multinational organisations but also smaller, more flexible companies, we've had to change, cut costs and become more adaptable. Some things shipped overseas (or at least an option to the customer), other areas scrapped and every expense scrutinised.
The world has changed, money is tight and to keep the business running a leadership team is needed that will take onboard what the market is doing, where it is likely to go and initiate plans to adapt, they need to be decisive. A hell of a lot of risk involved but that is what the job entails. Otherwise you'll sink with the other hand sitters.

[Syndrome]

Ford Aus is turning over CEOs very regularly. It appears every time a new guy is appointed they quickly realise the brand is farked in this country and decide to get out early.

[turbo4]

Originally Posted by Syndrome

Ford Aus is turning over CEOs very regularly. It appears every time a new guy is appointed they quickly realise the brand is farked in this country and decide to get out early.

They still hang around longer than Holden management.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Syndrome

Ford Aus is turning over CEOs very regularly. It appears every time a new guy is appointed they quickly realise the brand is farked in this country and decide to get out early.

Poor management culture, if you have high staff turn over there is something wrong at the top, especially if its CEOs coming and going.

[Polyal]

Guys.....have a look at other top exec's in companies "doing well" and I think you will find they turn them over at a pretty frequent rate aswell.

Its rare that any decent CEO will stay put in a multinational these days. If your good you are moved to a more important role.

[mik]

Originally Posted by Polyal

Guys.....have a look at other top exec's in companies "doing well" and I think you will find they turn them over at a pretty frequent rate aswell.

Its rare that any decent CEO will stay put in a multinational these days. If your good you are moved to a more important role.

Whats your new job, " i put the bucket seats in ".

[kypez]

Maybe there is hope for this bloke afterall...

http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/f...20-1m3ihc.html

Re-instated XR8 flagship brings a welcome boost at Ford's Broadmeadows factory.

Ford's swansong XR8 Falcon is all about getting to your destination fast.
Ford Australia has confirmed plans to double production of its new Falcon XR8 due to heightened demand.

Speaking with Drive, freshly-appointed Ford Australia president and chief executive Graeme Whickman said the public response to the XR8, which was reinstated with the release of the new FG X range in December following a four-year hiatus, had been overwhelming, with demand far outstripping supply.

Whickman confirmed that Ford's Broadmeadows factory would soon double its output of XR8s in a bid to pare back the waiting time for customers, believed to be several months.

"We're very happy with the response to Falcon," Whickman said.

"You've got to see derivatives like the XR8s; we're about to put more of those into production, almost double the original number of cars."

Whickman was reticent to nominate a figure on how many additional XR8s Ford would put into production, however Drive understands the uptake to be more than 2000 units ahead of Ford's planned manufacturing closure in October 2016. Ford is also believed to be working on a hi-po variant of its powerful XR6 Turbo.

That number is a drop in the ocean relative to Ford's glory era but it will undoubtedly bring a welcome boost at Broadmeadows. Sales of the locally-produced Ford Falcon, Falcon Ute and Territory fell from 54,087 sales in 2009 to 18,962 units last year. Moreover, Ford sold only 1272 Falcon sedans and Utes during January and February this year.

At $54,690 (plus on-road costs) in automatic guise the swansong XR8 will go down as the most expensive model in the nameplate's history. But it is a bargain by modern day standards, because it is essentially an identical vehicle under the skin to the old FPV GT R-Spec, performing all the same party tricks for $22,300 less on its sticker price. At the heart of the reincarnated XR8 is a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine, bolstered by performance brakes, sports suspension and staggered tyre widths.

Whickman said the XR8's strong value proposition had appealed to buyers.

"It's been around for a short period of time and the reaction has been very strong," he said.

Cross-town rival Holden has experienced a similar spike in popularity for its V8-powered Commodore, which now accounts for nearly 40 per cent of overall sales.

Despite the uptake in XR8 demand, Whickman confirmed that Ford would not pour any additional support into the new FG X model, a move which is sure to stir public debate.

Ford has invested little to no external advertising for the Falcon, and only a minimal advertising campaign for the SZ II Territory, instead focussing on new global models like the upcoming Mustang.

"Ours is very much a targeted approach," Whickman said of Ford's marketing strategy, while confirming that things would stay the same.

" You're talking about very tribal segment and a high customer loyalty. Our effort has been around targeting those loyal customers and that's been working, the targeting has proven very successful thus far."

[TheSneakiness]

Originally Posted by MethodX

cheap shot....

And justified rightly.

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by Hemihunter

Bob , dont let the door hit you on the way out! Go have a beer with Ziggy from Telstra and talk about all the good achievements you both made to your organisations. Roll in the next clown !

You do know his family moved back to the states, he has a new grandchild and has been video calling them every morning for over a year...could it be he just misses his wife, kids and family....

[galaxy xr8]

Originally Posted by Wretched

What else could be done? These things are not unique to QANTAS, the company i work for is going through a similar "transformation."
To be competitive not only against multinational organisations but also smaller, more flexible companies, we've had to change, cut costs and become more adaptable. Some things shipped overseas (or at least an option to the customer), other areas scrapped and every expense scrutinised.
The world has changed, money is tight and to keep the business running a leadership team is needed that will take onboard what the market is doing, where it is likely to go and initiate plans to adapt, they need to be decisive. A hell of a lot of risk involved but that is what the job entails. Otherwise you'll sink with the other hand sitters.

Exactly, move with the times and economic growth or be left out of the game by your own doings.
The saying you have to be cruel to be kind rings true here as well.

We as outsiders looking in may not agree with the recommendations or decisions being made but we do have to accept them if we want to see our beloved companies flourish and continue.