ZAP No boost, no bottle, just my foot on the throttle! Lifetime Members 7,935 Member For: 21y 5d Gender: Male Location: Sydney Posted 22/08/08 06:34 AM Share Posted 22/08/08 06:34 AM Ford Australia boss Bill Osborne has resigned suddenly, less than 24 hours after the company announced it would cut 350 jobs. Outgoing Ford Australia president Bill OsborneFord Australia has been dealt another blow with the shock resignation of its newly appointed president Bill Osborne after just six months in the role.Osborne, who previously headed up Ford of Canada, will leave the company almost immediately to take up a role outside the automotive industry in North America."The decision I made is a very personal one," said Osborne. "It in no way reflects dissatisfaction with Ford and doesn’t reflect a lack of ongoing confidence in the company. I can’t tell you how difficult this decision is. This is a fantastic company. I retain 100 per cent confidence in Ford Australia."The shock announcement came less than 24 hours after Ford announced it would cut 350 workers from its Broadmeadows and Geelong plants and scale back production of its all-new FG Falcon due to soft sales and the worsening economic climate.Osborne will head back to the US to take up a position as CEO of "an independent company", something he says has been a lifelong dream.“An opportunity has come my way sooner than I expected. I felt I had to take that opportunity now," said Osborne, who will leave the automotive industry after 31 years. "It’s just unfortunate that it comes at a time of great challenges in the industry but in no way reflects those challenges."Osborne says he is "quite saddened to be leaving Ford of Australia" but says there is a "good strong team in place and strong future".In a brief statement issued this afternoon Ford Motor Company executive vice president of Asia Pacific and Africa, John Parker, says a replacement for Osborne will be announced “in due course”."Bill has made significant contributions during his career with Ford Motor Company, and we wish him and his family all the best with his future endeavour," Parker says in the statement."Ford Australia will continue to play a vital role in the future success of Ford Motor Company and within the Asia Pacific and Africa region, with greater input and alignment across all areas of the business, particularly product development, information technology, purchasing and marketing and sales," he says.Osborne came to Ford at a difficult time for the company, which has been battered by poor sales of its bread and butter cars, the Ford Falcon and Territory.Sales of large Australian-made cars have struggled in recent years due to a number of factors. The strong Australian dollar and implementation of a free trade agreement has made imported vehicles more attractive. More recently, rising fuel prices has encouraged buyers into smaller, more effecient vehicles.Osborne's imminent resignation is the latest in a string of changes at the top of Ford and Holden.Expensive Daewoo has had three managing directors in the last two years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Here since the start... Lifetime Members 10,282 Member For: 21y 9m 24d Gender: Male Location: Victoria Posted 22/08/08 06:41 AM Share Posted 22/08/08 06:41 AM It's not a good industry to be in on the manufacturing side these days.Probably only going to get worse! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
senna_T Forged Member Lifetime Members 15,818 Member For: 18y 12d Gender: Male Location: SW Sydney Posted 22/08/08 06:59 AM Share Posted 22/08/08 06:59 AM He would've been punted... Shame, he seemed like a nice guy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tab Sucker Moderating Team 32,303 Member For: 20y 9m 25d Gender: Male Location: Brisbane Posted 22/08/08 07:04 AM Share Posted 22/08/08 07:04 AM Always need to have a fall-guy to be blamed for bad news....makes the mass lay-offs easier for the public to swallow.Wonder who is next in line? Put your resume in Seena? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dagabond Bored Member Administrator 35,722 Member For: 22y 3m 5d Gender: Male Location: Dé·jà vu Posted 22/08/08 08:05 AM Share Posted 22/08/08 08:05 AM It's not a good industry to be in manufacturing these days.Probably only going to get worse!Fixed....Those at the top that see the bigger picture and know whats coming are usually the first to bolt... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iconic Bionic My engine bay is Bionic Donating Members 3,726 Member For: 18y 11m Gender: Male Location: Freeways Posted 22/08/08 08:16 AM Share Posted 22/08/08 08:16 AM Must have been my email to Today/Tonight about my crooked exhaust that did it.I.B. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Venom XR6 Member 1,460 Member For: 21y 9m 24d Location: Geelong Victoria Posted 23/08/08 03:17 AM Share Posted 23/08/08 03:17 AM All us employees are hoping the new boss will be an Aussie, the Yanks just fly in and use the job to better their future employment chances inside Ford HQ, whereas the Aussie bosses love the place and the people and do their best to keep it running right. ie. Geoff Polites, Jac Nasser etc.Look at the dud Yanks that have been rumoured to have be sent over to shut the place down ie. David Morgan and Tom Gorman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCRIBR Yaris member Member 4,486 Member For: 18y 7m 29d Gender: Male Posted 23/08/08 03:30 AM Share Posted 23/08/08 03:30 AM just fly in and use the job to better their future employment chances inside Ford HQwelcome to working for an international company Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Here since the start... Lifetime Members 10,282 Member For: 21y 9m 24d Gender: Male Location: Victoria Posted 23/08/08 03:39 AM Share Posted 23/08/08 03:39 AM Must have been my email to Today/Tonight about my crooked exhaust that did it.All us employees...Hopefully you can still say that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iTec TEAM BA Donating Members 1,755 Member For: 20y 2m 11d Gender: Male Location: North of The Bridge Posted 23/08/08 04:32 AM Share Posted 23/08/08 04:32 AM All us employees are hoping the new boss will be an Aussie,it aint just the employees hoping that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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