Although Ford CEO Alan Mulally just started with the company in 2006 and is contracted through 2011, the Michigan-based automaker is already on the lookout for its next CEO. While Ford’s next leader could still come from outside the company, Joe Laymon — Ford’s head of personnel — released a list of six possible internal candidates at last week’s New York Auto Show.
According to Automotive News, that short list includes Jim Farley — head of Ford marketing, Mark Fields — president of the Americas, Joe Hinrichs — Ford’s CFO, Stephen Odell — Ford of Europe’s COO, Don Leclair and Lewis Booth — head of Ford Europe and the Premier Auto Group.
But Laymon says the next CEO may not necessarily come from that list and that it is actually reviewed annually by the board to see if it needs any changes.
Laymon also revealed that Mulally’s successor would likely be named Ford COO six to twelve months before Mulally left office.
With two European representatives on the short list to replace Mulally, it looks as though Ford might finally have a strong case to bring some of its European vehicles to the U.S. However, Ford could still look outside of the company for its next CEO, just as it hired Mulally from Boeing.
03/24, 12:40 PM
posted by:
jjayc08
I had an internal examination, does that mean I could get the job?
03/24, 12:52 PM
posted by:
lucklaster
When Mulally goes - I vote Jim Farley. Someone that knows markets and how to market to them. Bringing some EU products over is OK while you are developing the right vehicles, but Farley can take it from there.
03/24, 12:53 PM
posted by:
RSPINAJR
Farly should be the man - as long as he inherits a healthy company from mulaly
03/24, 1:10 PM
posted by:
Ricardo Head
Either of the two Ford Of Europe candidates would be best, or at least the PAG guy. My motto is that if any candidate contributed to and defended the current ford N.A. product line-up, they are not qualified to lead the company ahead.
The marketing guy, the Americas prez, and the CFO all help Ford N.A. step into the grave thru their defense of the indefensible; ergo they should be out of the running.
And Farley? Come on, his marketing department would have to be the one that came up with the “let’s rename the 500 back to Taurus because the consumer is so stupid he won’t notice” idea. This dude isn’t qualified to lead a Dunkin Donuts franchise.
03/24, 1:35 PM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
Pffft, Ford won’t be around long enough to see a changeover! The American Revolution has Fords number and is kicking their sorry asses all over the globe. They’re on their way out of business and no CFO is going to change that.
Welcome to the American Revolution!
03/24, 1:35 PM
posted by:
lucklaster
New guys are still cleaning up crap and had nothing to do with vehicles on the assembly line. Give it a little time just like what GM is going thru. Farley is having to make orders look like good ideas. Good products start with fresh, good ideas and I think Farley, if let loose could be that guy.
03/24, 1:52 PM
posted by:
TOZO
The stock traded higher when Bill Ford was in charge.
03/24, 2:09 PM
posted by:
SwerveEarly
Lewis Booth; we all know him, he posts on this board under:LP640
03/24, 2:30 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Take all of them, stick hooks up their asses, and send them spinning around that big centifuge like the pickup in their truck commercial. Last guy to pass out gets the job. The losers have to remove their own hooks.
03/25, 10:22 AM
posted by:
planet_drive
If Ford wants just a bit of a chance at success, they need to start bringing over the big bosses from Europe. I still say Ford should completely shut down all its north american production and just make Ford a European run company.
03/25, 10:24 AM
posted by:
stick2clutch
Mulally has made some questionable decisions… and has yet to bring any of Ford’s European offerings… I can see why they have their eye’s open for the next candidate.
Oh, and he drives a Lexus… what a slap in the face.
03/25, 10:57 AM
posted by:
planet_drive
Whats funny is that Mulally was quoted saying “Lexus is the finest automobile in the world” He’s been critisized heavily for driving a Lexus, but thats just stupid, you want a guy earning 7 figures to drive a Taurus? lol Just shows you how bad Fords are when the big boss himself refuses to own a Ford lol
03/25, 2:17 PM
posted by:
Scarface03
I’m surprised that they’re cutting Mullaly loose. I think most of Ford’s problems were already in place by 2006. You can whine about why we’re not driving Euro Focuses in the U.S., but you can’t just engineer a global platform over night.
I’m sure getting Mullaly on board was very costly, a large bonus I’m sure preceded his high CEO salary. I’m not sure anyone else could have done better.
planet_drive, after Mulally worked at Ford for a while, he did trade in the Lexus. I think he got a Five Hundred.