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

Gobes32 · 19-03-2015, 12:03 PM

And I distinctly remember the big speech about everyone was in this together, right through to the end.

https://au.prime7.yahoo.com/v1/news/...or-retirement/

Joe5619 · 19-03-2015, 01:04 PM

Fantastic news... Now, how does this new guy feel about V8 supercars???

**kypez** · 19-03-2015, 01:46 PM

What is worrying is who the new guy is.

"Graeme Whickman, current vice president of marketing, sales and service for Ford Australia."

We know how well Marketing, sales and service has been going for Ford Aus... Wouldnt be surprised if it was this blokes decision to pull out of Supercars and not to market the Falcon...

Franco Cozzo · 19-03-2015, 01:54 PM

So now we've got head useless bastard calling the shots.

Might as well as just got some homeless dude from Melbourne CBD and given him a suit and the job, still better than the head of marketing.

BlueOvalPrint · 19-03-2015, 02:49 PM

Good riddance, Graziano. You initially had my respect when you promised to stand beside everyone in Ford Aus before, during and after local production ending. You started to lose it when you started using weasel words when you know full well that you were cutting V8 supercar funding. You completely lost it today.

My worry is that the new guy has been installed to shut down Broadmeadows and Geelong early, without having blood on the hands of one of Ford's US ladder climbers.

I would be very happy to be wrong on this, but have a strong feeling that it's possible...

Franco Cozzo · 19-03-2015, 03:12 PM

Why are they mostly foreigners as well? What's wrong with CEOs locally?

**Polyal** · 19-03-2015, 03:23 PM

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.

cheap · 19-03-2015, 03:29 PM

Out with the old CEO, out with the 2016 plan

New CEO = new plan for Falcon

I wonder how long before he says "Falcon gone in 2015"?

Road_Warrior · 19-03-2015, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Why are they mostly foreigners as well? What's wrong with CEOs locally?

Too much of an obstacle to shutting the place down.

**Raptor** · 19-03-2015, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Why are they mostly foreigners as well? What's wrong with CEOs locally?

Ummm, probably because it's a foriegn owned company

Australia may have retained a car manufacturing industry had that not been the case and the local product was allowed to be exported and appreciated by a broader base.

Or maybe not. But now we'll never know.

.

**Silver Ghia** · 19-03-2015, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kypez

What is worrying is who the new guy is.

"Graeme Whickman, current vice president of marketing, sales and service for Ford Australia."

We know how well Marketing, sales and service has been going for Ford Aus... Wouldnt be surprised if it was this blokes decision to pull out of Supercars and not to market the Falcon...

My experience with marketing and sales people is not good. Especially when it comes to manufacturing and engineering.

Mr Hardware · 19-03-2015, 04:11 PM

To quote The Who

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

swanee · 19-03-2015, 04:53 PM

It times like this I really miss Geoff Polites even more. There will never be another like him for Ford Australia, that did so much for the people.

**russellw** · 19-03-2015, 05:01 PM

It's awfully short notice for someone who is 'retiring' - it's more often than not a contract condition at this level that more like 3 months notice is required to ensure a suitable replacement can be found.

I smell piscatorial essences.

Cheers
Russ

galaxy xr8 · 19-03-2015, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Why are they mostly foreigners as well? What's wrong with CEOs locally?

Trying to find one that will fit the role would be a factor, most companies as big as Ford Aus don’t just employ a person as CEO just because they are of Australian background, a lot of people that have no understanding of the business side of things are always up in the air about things like this but at the end of the day if they have shares or a vested interests in that company they want the best person in the job for it and finding that person locally is not that easy, also with a company like this they chop and change roles with in, just as a man like Geoff Politties moved on to do bigger and better things with in Ford to further his career overseas.

Franco Cozzo · 19-03-2015, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raptor

Ummm, probabaly because it's a foriegn owned company

Australia may have retained a car manufacturing industry had that not been the case and the local product was allowed to be exported and appreciated by a broader base.

Or maybe not. But now we'll never know.

.

So what if its a foreign company, its still operating in this country.

Toyota had a local CEO at one stage.

**Polyal** · 19-03-2015, 05:14 PM

Because in general it's s posting to retire or somewhere to cut your teeth.

Any budding Aussie ceo is keen to show their skill overseas so you have this scenario of a revolving door.

RANGEREST · 19-03-2015, 05:52 PM

The guy that's 2IC of the worst performing part of FoA is now the CEO, WTF?
Goodbye Ford Australia.

anto · 19-03-2015, 06:09 PM

retiring hey? dont let the door hit you on the wat out.
two thumbs down on your efforts

neptune blue · 19-03-2015, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Damo

So what if its a foreign company, its still operating in this country.

Toyota had a local CEO at one stage.

You will find it's head office that calls the shots no matter who's in the seat. Having said that most large foreign owned companies have CEO's that are not Australian or they have a structure in place that doesn't give the Australian CEO complete autonomy

I work for a german company and the CFO reports directly to Germany , not to the CEO

neptune blue · 19-03-2015, 06:38 PM

I don't give a rats about ford australia. I have never thought much of them as a company ( having delt with them as a supplier) I just like the cars they used to make , with the exception of a number of marques which I won't mention as I don't want to start a fight

On the surface it does look like Graziano was shown the door. They have chosen the right guy for the job , the head of sales and marketing who has sat on his hands for I don't know how long . I guess he was chosen cos he doesn't have to do anything.

Franco Cozzo · 19-03-2015, 06:54 PM

I'll be Ford Australia's CEO for half of what this guy is doing it for

**Fordman1** · 19-03-2015, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheap

Out with the old CEO, out with the 2016 plan

New CEO = new plan for Falcon

I wonder how long before he says "Falcon gone in 2015"?

That's Rubbish, you are just trolling.

Falcons will be built in October 2016.

**Charliewool** · 19-03-2015, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Damo

I'll be Ford Australia's CEO for half of what this guy is doing it for

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!

Iggle Piggle · 19-03-2015, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Damo

I'll be Ford Australia's CEO for half of what this guy is doing it for

They'd be mad to knock you back at half the wage and ten times the performance of this fella.

turbo4 · 19-03-2015, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Damo

I'll be Ford Australia's CEO for half of what this guy is doing it for

I'd do it for minimum wage, provided I got an XR8 as a company car

**Polyal** · 19-03-2015, 07:39 PM

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.