Ford CEO visited Melbourne

[Dr Smith]

https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-new...t-to-australia

The worldwide boss of Ford, Jim Farley, has made a rapid-fire pre-Christmas visit to Melbourne.

It was his first trip to Australia since he became chief executive officer of the Ford Motor Company in October 2020.

Mr Farley was accompanied on his tour of local facilities by the former head of Ford Australia, Kay Hart, who is now the president of Ford’s International Markets Group.

Ford's global boss hits the track in inaugural visit to Australia
The worldwide head of Ford Performance, Mark Rushbrook, was also a member of the Farley party on one of his semi-regular visits to Australia as head of the motorsport operation in the USA that includes Supercars in Australia.

Mr Farley managed to combine work with some play, as he jumped behind the wheel of a Supercars racer for hot laps at the Calder Park track on the outskirts of Melbourne.

“Thank goodness we go racing,” Mr Farley said.

Ford's global boss hits the track in inaugural visit to Australia
His visit included time at the headquarters of Ford Australia, as well as a trip to the remanufacturing facility at Mickleham where RMA Automotive is switching the Ford F-150 pickup to right-hand drive.

Ford’s National Parts Distribution Centre, located next-door to the F-150 facility, was another stop.

He also did an all-staff Town Hall Meeting at Broadmeadows, where Ford Australia still maintains an extensive research and development facility – including a design studio – that works on a range of global projects for Ford including the Ranger pickup that is then manufactured in Thailand.

Mr Farley’s time with Ford’s five Supercars teams included a catch-up with Dick Johnson, as well as Ford Mustang racer Cam Waters, whom he had previously met when the pair were doing individual driver training sessions in the UK.

His rapid-fire immersion at Ford Australia also included players from the Geelong Cats, the AFL football team sponsored by Ford, as well as Ford customers and owners of classic Falcons.

The Ford boss is a keen racer who owns a Ford GT40 classic sports car and a new Ford Mustang GT4, and had previously turned hot laps in the USA in a Supercars’ Mustang shipped from Australia.

Ford's global boss hits the track in inaugural visit to Australia
This time he rode alongside Mr Waters before taking the wheel of the car, as it had raced to victory at the Adelaide 500 last month in a tribute livery to the late Ken Block and Monster Energy. His early speed was limited by soaking-wet track conditions at Calder but he went progressively quicker as the track dried.

“This is a dream come true for a CEO,” he said.

“That was fun. So much more fun than the modern race cars I’ve driven. It’s all about the driver.

“On the wrong side of the car… ” Mr Farley laughed.

[randel]

Love it - you need passion like that at the top - good to see!

[DFB FGXR6]

Why is he in the country? I guess the next round of sackings to save jobs in the US.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Why is he in the country? I guess the next round of sackings to save jobs in the US.

Ford who?

[kevino]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Ford who?

Ford Ute Australia
You know
The
Ranger
and Everest
people.

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Why is he in the country? I guess the next round of sackings to save jobs in the US.

While not the case, if it were true at least he had the gonads to do so in person....and maybe some clever locals showed him how some things other than F-150's could switch over driving side.

[jpd80]

Make no mistake, all the current operations in Australia exist because of Farley’s generosity.
Showing the boss a good time and impressing him is all part of the schmoose…..

Who knows, an efficient F150 conversion process might open the way for more vehicles,
gotta show him what’s possible (proof of concept)

[Wretched]

Have a lot of respect for Farley.