Ford President and CEO Jim Hackett retires; Jim Farley to replace him.

[4Vman]

FORD ANNOUNCES JIM HACKETT TO RETIRE AS PRESIDENT AND CEO; JIM FARLEY TO SUCCEED HACKETT AS COMPANY CONTINUES TRANSFORMATION

https://media.ford.com/content/fordm...t-and-ceo.html

[4Vman]

One Journalist's assessment of Jim Farley:

http://www.autoextremist.com/current...tEMgfiXxiAq-uA

Farley, the former Toyota wunderkind who was responsible for the launch of the Scion brand, has developed quite the notorious reputation at Ford as one who is unfettered by rational thought and unburdened by accountability, and who has a penchant for going completely off the rails. Known for his prodigiously short attention span and burdened by an excruciatingly painful interpersonal awkwardness, Farley’s belligerent, condescending style of dealing with underlings, along with his classic “parachute in, helicopter out” M.O. that has defined bad actor executives for decades in this business became his calling card.

It gets worse. Farley has long considered himself to be “the smartest guy in the room” at Ford, much to everyone’s endless chagrin, because the reality is that he isn’t. It’s a carefully crafted facade that is hollow to its core. This was confirmed by the fact that Farley became known as "The Two Jims" because interactions with him became a meandering crapshoot, hinging upon whether people encountered the "good" Jim or the "bad" Jim on that particular day. Needless to say, when the "bad" Jim was unleashed, Farley left a trail of bad feelings and highly questionable decisions in his wake.

Now that Bill Ford has decided that Jim Farley is “The Guy,” it’s no secret that seasoned executives are cowering under their desks because an emboldened Farley, unfettered and untethered, has all the makings of an unmitigated disaster. Am I picking on Farley? Hardly. I have only scratched the surface in describing this ego maniacal character, and now that he has been given the CEO reins, he could wreak havoc on the company’s future for years.

[Perko]

One Journalist's assessment of Jim Farley:

http://www.autoextremist.com/current...tEMgfiXxiAq-uA

They have has same type of person for their President so Ford might as well join in the craziness of the US. What could go wrong???

[WASP]

They have has same type of person for their President so Ford might as well join in the craziness of the US. What could go wrong???

Reading that assessment I was thinking the exact same thing. Can two wrongs make a right?

[FTe217]

haha touche Perko.
Isn't it typical merica, one end of the scale to the other.
Well Hatchet done his job.
Made sure good ol USofA has their F150 keeping on top which is good for them and Pony keep going on.
The rest is pretty much culled barring the SUV's.
I look forward to the Trump style blimps a coming with Farley.
Obviously that journo has had run ins with him or it is how it really is.

[andrewforbes]

What I've had a read of, not sure farley has the skills to be CEO, sounds like he's erratic n won't own any of his mistakes. Maybe it's a case like can't sack ya so we will promote ya so we can in 12mths. Similar to military forces "your no good at leading a squad but can't force u to quit so we will promote u n send u to supply or a desk job. We will make your position so boring you'll quit."
I'm probably just talking b.s..
Only time will tell.
One thing I hope for is new oz boss continues what the previous was doing n also works to get Broncos n mach e here

[Elks]

Reading that assessment I was thinking the exact same thing. Can two wrongs make a right?

Absolutely not.


I worked for a guy like that at International. it's impossible. The motor industry works on long product cycles 3 to 8 years, long development cycles, 3 to 5 years, long lead times can take 12 months to even ramp up production by a meaningful factor.

That's not an environment for hot-headedness. That might work in Fashion or Retail where you can react quickly, but its unlikely to bring success in long term stuff.

The guy at international was 2IC at first and while he was difficult it was workable. When he became MD with absolute power, it was near on impossible. The place has still not recovered 15 years later.



I wish Jim Farely well. He is now in charge of one of the world's great companies at an impossible time. Maybe a touch of madness will help.

Note: Assuming that the article quoted is corrrect.