Comments

I heard an interesting comment on NPR's marketplace last night. The reporter said that the Mr. Mulally brings operations expertise--something Ford desperately needs. Interestingly enough, the reporter also said when Mr. Mulally was doing research for his own work at Boeing, he studied Ford and its production process for building the Taurus.

Posted by Joel Schettler at September 6, 2006 1:52 PM

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2006-09-05-ford-cover-usat_x.htm

USA Today today seems to agree.

Posted by sean at September 6, 2006 2:30 PM

Frankly, as a former resident of Seattle who watched Boeing and Mr. Mulally carefully, I'm not convinved he did such a great job at Boeing, unless he lays claim to the screw-ups at Airbus, gaining back some previously lost market share for Boeing.

Posted by Lewis Green at September 6, 2006 2:30 PM

No, it won't (become clear after the fog has lifted). You'll only discover more fog at FORD. They can't find it with both hands and radar.

Posted by Randy Cantrell at September 6, 2006 4:35 PM

Mr. Mulally presumably had a leading role in the 787. That is a tremendous success in engineering, operations, and market understanding.

He will need all of those skills and more to turn Ford around. Legacy benefit costs, a horridly dishonest dealership network, and cynical media and consumers are pretty much beyond his control.

On the bright side the principals of fuel efficiency, applied advanced technology, and high productivity and excellence in production that made the 787 a success are exactly what Ford needs. If done well they can save the brand...maybe.

Posted by Tom Coffin at September 6, 2006 6:33 PM

Tom

I do not know Mr Mulally or his record but I wish him well. He is stepping up to the plate at Ford when it needs dramatic and radical change - now there is a WOW project if ever I saw one! What happens at Ford over the next five years will be important to America - if he fails then there is a story about loss of invention and innovation in the USA however if he succeeds then the story is about transforming a moribund culture. I hope and trust that the guy wins this battle. I hope and trust too that most Americans will support him as best they can to do whatever he has to do to rebuild Ford.

Richard Lipscombe

Posted by Richard Lipscombe at September 6, 2006 8:20 PM

FORD = Fog Over Real Decisions.

I personally feel, Bill Ford wanted to make his first move in appointing Alan Mulally, previously executive vice president of Boeing and president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, as CEO of FORD. Given the fact that GM is also scouting around for a "CEO"...its better to poach sooner rather than later...remember..."its always survivial of the fsstest??!!"

For Mulally, its a nice career move because as we all know he was a top candidate for the BOEING CEO job last year but BOEING went outside instead to select aerospace veteran Jim McNerney (then the 3M Co.CEO) to appoint as its CEO...Well, thats what happens when you spend 37 years in one company!?

Posted by K.Sriram at September 7, 2006 12:08 AM

and God forbid use yield management to sell cars at even zanier range of prices...and BTW - adopt the make it difficult to ever use award miles thinking to car warranties. "Sorry but the next warranty appointment is 182 days out at 3 am. Unless of course, you can drive to the dealer 622 miles away - he has a slot open today at 10.30 am."

Posted by vinnie mirchandani at September 7, 2006 8:53 AM

Tom,

I do hope that you were blinded by your travel fog, or else many of us are confused.

I've never seen in any of your writings that "excellent" leadership is spawned by and exclusive to the industry one grows up in. In fact, I noted the following in the first slides in your Adelaide presentation: Excellence ==> Tempo. MBWA. Appreciation. Decency. Hurry. Big Change - Short Time. Passion. Energy. Hustle. Enthusiasm. Exuberance. Hard is Soft.

Mulally may bring all of these characteristics and more to Ford. Let's give the guy a chance and certainly not pre-judge him JUST because he isn't from the auto industry.

Posted by Joe S at September 7, 2006 11:31 AM

Good points Joe. My comments were based on his less-than-steller performance at Boeing. As for your points, they are right on target. In fact, lots of smart researchers and business leaders call for hiring at least some executives from outside the industry in which we practice, as one way to invigorate and reinvent our businesses to make them better in ways that we may not have otherwise perceived.

Posted by Lewis Green at September 7, 2006 1:40 PM

1. NEW FORD = New Energetic Winners Fun Organized Reliable Dependable [NEW FORD]

Posted by sean at September 7, 2006 2:05 PM