mackinaw Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 Hot off the press. Today's Automotive News: "Kumar Galhotra, Ford Motor Co.’s top engineer, was named president of the Lincoln brand today, a new position that reports directly to CEO Mark Fields, in another management change designed to jumpstart sales at the luxury brand. Jim Farley, executive vice president of global sales, service and marketing, has directed Lincoln since 2012, and will continue to oversee Ford’s sales, service and marketing operations, but will also have a role in Lincoln’s marketing and product plans, Ford said today. “Now is the right time to have a dedicated global leader for the brand,” Ford spokeswoman Susan Krusel said today. She said it was Farley who recommended to Ford’s board that Lincoln get a “totally dedicated leader.” Galhotra, 48, has been Ford’s vice president of engineering since August 2013. He will oversee all Lincoln operations worldwide, including product development; marketing, sales and service; and all team members under the Lincoln brand. The change is effective Sept. 1. Fields said the move makes clear the company is “serious about Lincoln as a world-class luxury brand. “Now is the right time for the next chapter in accelerating Lincoln as a world-class luxury brand,” Fields said in a statement. “Kumar has more than 25 years of global product and business experience, including leading engineering for all of our Lincoln vehicles today. Being our dedicated senior Lincoln leader will serve our clients, employees and dealers extremely well going forward." http://www.autonews.com/article/20140722/OEM02/140729977/ford-taps-top-engineer-to-lead-lincoln?cciid=email-autonews-blast&r=8221J0649801H2C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoonerLS Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 Hmm...it worked out pretty well when Ford tapped an engineer to lead the whole company... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 I think they're getting ready to pull back the curtain on the new Lincoln. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 another management change designed to jumpstart sales at the luxury brand. Wut? Perhaps this move is more about, oh, I don't know, overseeing a sizable organization, and not just about 'jumpstarting sales'. I'm surprised the writer didn't add the 'struggling luxury brand' boilerplate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 It shows you how little the media knows about actually running a company. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mackinaw Posted July 22, 2014 Author Share Posted July 22, 2014 Not to defend the writer, but in journalism school, you’re taught to report the good stuff as well as the bad stuff. And you definitely don’t want to write something that sounds like a press release. But I agree, the writer was lazy and used the standard cliche' when he wrote his piece. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 Not to defend the writer, but in journalism school, you’re taught to report the good stuff as well as the bad stuff. And you definitely don’t want to write something that sounds like a press release. But I agree, the writer was lazy and used the standard cliche' when he wrote his piece. Actually, I was referring to the faulty conclusion that this move was intended to 'jumpstart' sales. Putting an unsupported conclusion in the lead is just sloppy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlRozzi Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 when he wrote his piece. It appears a woman wrote it. Nora...something. Journalistic malpractice may be at play as she drives a Cadillac (I made up that part)! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edstock Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 IMHO, an excellent choice. Compared to hiring somebody from Proctor & Gamble, like GM did a while back, the audacity of having somebody run the marque who knows more about cars than detergent pucks, who'd'a thunk it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ANTAUS Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 What do we know of this fellow? They gave a general statement about what he oversaw, but do we know deep down inside what he would like to see for the brand? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-150 Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 Hmm...it worked out pretty well when Ford tapped an engineer to lead the whole company... Like Henry? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 Actually, I was referring to the faulty conclusion that this move was intended to 'jumpstart' sales. Putting an unsupported conclusion in the lead is just sloppy. Especially when he knows that launching Lincoln in China will "jumpstart" sales in any regard.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoonerLS Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 Like Henry? I was thinking more of Alan, but Henry works, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edstock Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 Ford also hired another engineer-type. LeftLane News Additionally, Ford announced that Dr. Ken Washington will be taking over for the retiring Paul Mascarenas, who currently holds the position of chief technical officer and vice president, Research and Advanced Engineering. Mascarenas has spent the last 32 years with Ford.Washington arrives from Lockheed Martin's Space Systems Company where he was vice president of the Space Technology Advanced Research & Development Laboratories. According to Ford, Washington will oversee the development and implementation of the company's technology strategy and plans. Washington will begin work on August 18. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark B. Morrow Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 Wut? Perhaps this move is more about, oh, I don't know, overseeing a sizable organization, and not just about 'jumpstarting sales'. I'm surprised the writer didn't add the 'struggling luxury brand' boilerplate. Maybe it's time to take it up to 30 or 90! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1984Poke Posted July 27, 2014 Share Posted July 27, 2014 (edited) I'd really like to read an in-depth interview with the new President of Lincoln in which he outlines his vision for Lincoln, how he plans to deal with its challenges, and his plans for Lincoln's future. Edited July 27, 2014 by 1984Poke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2b2 Posted July 28, 2014 Share Posted July 28, 2014 I'd really like to read an in-depth interview with the new President of Lincoln in which he outlines his vision for Lincoln, how he plans to deal with its challenges, and his plans for Lincoln's future. DITTO, 1984Poke maybe email John at AutolineDetroit to suggest it? ...ASAP!! I'd really like to hear him SPEAK about Lincoln even if it's only the usual "suit's" empty rhetoric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 He's not going to say anything that hasn't already been said. You'll just have to wait until they release the plan publicly which I think will be before the end of the year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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