New Ford Australia President

RATT · 24-09-2008, 10:00 AM

His name is Marin Burela.
He is an Aussie who was an engineering graduate and is a Geelong native..

Paxton · 24-09-2008, 10:04 AM

Finally, an Aussie Running Ford Australia.

The Seppos are all well and good, but they don't understand the Australian car market. Hopefully Burela can turn Ford around.

Cruise · 24-09-2008, 10:09 AM

And how long will he last before he jumps ship?

**FTE217** · 24-09-2008, 10:10 AM

Lets hope he's in for the long haul as long as he does the job well ofcourse.

sandmanls1 · 24-09-2008, 10:24 AM

http://www.theage.com.au/national/ma...0924-4mru.html

S3SR · 24-09-2008, 10:34 AM

good luck to him - i hope he can change Ford for the better, just dont get rid of the falcon otherwise im coming for you :P

broken_suave · 24-09-2008, 10:48 AM

Enthusiastic is great, but remember Mr Osbourne was 'enthusiastic' as well.

Naturally I beleive he understands the Australian market better, I just hope he actually makes a few changes rather than just flap his arms to the pull of strings.

Wally · 24-09-2008, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paxton

Finally, an Aussie Running Ford Australia.

The Seppos are all well and good, but they don't understand the Australian car market. Hopefully Burela can turn Ford around.

That's like saying Malcom Turnbill could run Australia and Julie Bishop the treasury..... both Australians, but not skilled enough.

I think it's about time Ford got themselves an enterpreneur who is more interested in selling product and building a business, than minimising sliding sales. Someone who hasn't capitulated to the idea that small cars are the exclusive future. Engineers tend to be micro managers and far too conservative in taking necessary risk.

RATT · 24-09-2008, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandmanls1

http://www.theage.com.au/national/ma...0924-4mru.html

The Age seem to be ahead of the times.. Check the "date" of the article.

Wretched · 24-09-2008, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wally

That's like saying Malcom Turnbill could run Australia and Julie Bishop the treasury..... both Australians, but not skilled enough.

I think it's about time Ford got themselves an enterpreneur who is more interested in selling product and building a business, than minimising sliding sales. Someone who hasn't capitulated to the idea that small cars are the exclusive future. Engineers tend to be micro managers and far too conservative in taking necessary risk.

I agree on this. They need someone like Mulally for Australia. Someone who sees Ford as a business and can come in clean it up, improve sales and the brand image. Someone who has the balls to stand up to unions for the good of the company.

aquahead2001 · 24-09-2008, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wally

That's like saying Malcom Turnbill could run Australia and Julie Bishop the treasury..... both Australians, but not skilled enough.

I think it's about time Ford got themselves an enterpreneur who is more interested in selling product and building a business, than minimising sliding sales. Someone who hasn't capitulated to the idea that small cars are the exclusive future. Engineers tend to be micro managers and far too conservative in taking necessary risk.

I'm not getting in to a political stoush but when I think "entrepreneur", a few names spring to mind. Alan Bond, Christopher Skase, Rodney Adler, George Herscu & Laurie Connell to name just a few.

Personally, I think someone who understands that the risk/reward equation also has a pretty large penatly for failure would get my vote!

Cobra · 24-09-2008, 12:25 PM

Good to see not only an Aussie, but a Geelong Aussie! I think he'd be pretty upset that the Geelong plant has been shut down. Maybe He wants to ensure that nothing else gets shut down. I hope he has more than just the ability, but spirit and emotion. I think Ford Aus need more than just a new business plan to get through these touhg times.

tranquilized · 24-09-2008, 01:13 PM

The fact that he has an engineering background, rather than an economc or marketing one, should be a good thing as well.

Fev · 24-09-2008, 01:22 PM

Just keep in mind that just because he's an aussie and he's from geelong doesnt mean he isnt just like the "fatcat's" who have already done the damage. I think it's a lets see what happens kinda situation here..

220XR8 · 24-09-2008, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RATT

His name is Marin Burela.
He is an Aussie who was an engineering graduate and is a Geelong native..

Good common "Aussie" name he has :alien2:

new2ford · 24-09-2008, 01:25 PM

I was glancing through October Wheels in the newsagent today and reading an interview with someone up top in Ford saying Falcon will become front wheel drive and how good FWD is. Is that this guy? I was appalled, obviously someone who doesn't know about cars. They'd kiss goodbye to Ford's large car sales in Australia if they did that. The same issue has a comparison between the Falcon and a Mercedes and Jaguar. They wouldn't bother even thinking about comparing if it had a Camry type drivetrain.

Falcon_Crazy · 24-09-2008, 01:35 PM

Just an idea, but if AFF can, as a group of passionate Ford supporters (and end users) can collectively come up with a letter to the new boss which covers off some of these views.

getting greement on something from the whole shebang may be gard, so why not take the time to jot downa brief letter and mail to HQ.

Good to get in when he is fresh and a letter arriving at his desk, in my history of corresponding with Ford, is always personally replied to.

Thoughts people??

Wretched · 24-09-2008, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 220XR8

Good common "Aussie" name he has :alien2:

What is an aussie name these days? May be he was born here from foreign parents.
who really cares anyway? As long as he can get the job done his name could be Hitler for all I care.

4Vman · 24-09-2008, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fev

Just keep in mind that just because he's an aussie and he's from geelong doesnt mean he isnt just like the "fatcat's" who have already done the damage. I think it's a lets see what happens kinda situation here..

hmmmm.. insightful...

Paxton · 24-09-2008, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wretched

What is an aussie name these days? May be he was born here from foreign parents.
who really cares anyway? As long as he can get the job done his name could be Hitler for all I care.

Correct.

Nasser was of foreign Origins as well, but without him, there would have been no Tickford Falcons.

DayTE · 24-09-2008, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wally

That's like saying Malcom Turnbill could run Australia and Julie Bishop the treasury..... both Australians, but not skilled enough.

I think it's about time Ford got themselves an enterpreneur who is more interested in selling product and building a business, than minimising sliding sales. Someone who hasn't capitulated to the idea that small cars are the exclusive future. Engineers tend to be micro managers and far too conservative in taking necessary risk.

I have a tendancy to disagree. Who were the last two Aussies in charge of Ford Aus? Jac Nasser, who brought back the V8 and had was around for the EB GT.
And Geoff Polites. Who as we know brought i the Territory and Ford back in to racing.
Now I realise that these aren't the be all and end all of running a successful business, but with some "local" knowledge, hopefully he can do well for our "local" Ford operations.

Good luck to him. And I hope his first job is to stick a rocket up Marketings back side.

Cobra · 24-09-2008, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 220XR8

Good common "Aussie" name he has :alien2:

So just because he's not called John Smith, Michael Johnson or Chris Jones that changes something in respect to him being a native Australian?

irlewy86 · 24-09-2008, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falcon_Crazy

Just an idea, but if AFF can, as a group of passionate Ford supporters (and end users) can collectively come up with a letter to the new boss which covers off some of these views.

getting greement on something from the whole shebang may be gard, so why not take the time to jot downa brief letter and mail to HQ.

Good to get in when he is fresh and a letter arriving at his desk, in my history of corresponding with Ford, is always personally replied to.

Thoughts people??

If we were really serious we would pool our funds, buy a considerable block of Ford shares and nominate a local boss. However I think a lot of people would change their tune if it was their own money on the table developing loss leading vehicles and ineffective marketing.

Fev · 24-09-2008, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Vman

hmmmm.. insightful...

pointless post of the year goes to..

Paxton · 24-09-2008, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fev

pointless post of the year goes to..

Pot. Kettle. Black.

Fab · 24-09-2008, 02:59 PM

This is Ford's new President.

RG · 24-09-2008, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fev

pointless post of the year goes to..

You can't give yourself an award, it's just not fair.

As for the point of this thread let's hope he leads Ford Aus in the right direction.

Wonder if he is a fan of the I6 being from Geelong......

merlin · 24-09-2008, 03:13 PM

He has an interesting bio - worked all over the world - for Landrover in UK, head of Ford Small Cars in Europe, in the US ect. Lots of experience it seems.

TadKa · 24-09-2008, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paxton

Pot. Kettle. Black.

lol, too true.

flappist · 24-09-2008, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wally

That's like saying Malcom Turnbill could run Australia and Julie Bishop the treasury..... both Australians, but not skilled enough.

I think it's about time Ford got themselves an enterpreneur who is more interested in selling product and building a business, than minimising sliding sales. Someone who hasn't capitulated to the idea that small cars are the exclusive future. Engineers tend to be micro managers and far too conservative in taking necessary risk.

Who is this Malcom Turnbill?

Are you referring to the next Prime Minister of Australia, Malcolm Turnbull MP?

Or are you trying to sneak in a political swipe and think by misspelling the name you will get away with it?

Or do you have no idea at all and are trying to look clever to your comrades?

You are not allowed to make party political statements on AFF.