Analysts: No More Ford For Ford!

Bloomberg News reports: Ford Should Replace Chief Executive, Analysts Say.

Analysts are raising questions about Bill Ford's future in an operating position as the company prepares for further cutbacks following a $1.44 billion net loss in 2006's first half. Ford Motor said in January that it planned to cut as many as 30,000 jobs and close 14 plants in North America. Six months later, the world's third-largest automaker said it needed to speed up job reductions and take additional steps that haven't yet been specified.

It's pretty clear to us that Bill Ford doesn't have a solid plan in place. Or things are spiraling out of control far faster than FoMoCo can handle.

In an interview with Business Week magazine last week, Bill Ford, 49, was asked whether he was the right person to fix the company founded by his great-grandfather more than 100 years ago. "I'll always look at talent that can help us move forward,'' he said. "We need somebody, and I'm that somebody right now.''

That's because no one else is going to work for the Ford family—they'll shoot down ideas and not allow him/her to take care of bidness. Also, we don't think Mr. Ford really wants the job. He's doing it because no one else will do it. We're pretty sure he'd rather practice his karate and meditate in a field of green. Meanwhile we'd sure like to meditate in a field of Alison.

We so miss the days of Alison's big hair. And her hillbilly dresses.

Comments

[Joel A]

Unfortunately I suspect you're right. Family can make and break a company. For the Ford Co., though, the latter is more often the result than the former.