Joe Laymon isn't on the short list of successors for Ford CEO Alan Mulally, and it's unlikely you've ever heard of him, but if you want to get to the top at the Blue Oval, this is the guy you stop by Starbucks for on the way to work. Laymon is in charge of keeping a list of internal candidates ready in the event Mulally retires (or quits, is fired or for some other reason exits his position), which could come as soon as 2011 when he turns 65.
Both President of the the Americas Mark Fields and new marketing chief Jim Farley are on the short list of six execs on which the company is keeping tabs, but some less familiar names are considered, as well. Europe boss Lewis Booth, CFO Don LeClair, Europe COO Stephen Odell, and manufacturing chief Joe Heinrich round out the list of internal CEO candidates that will be given to the Ford board in the event of a Mulally exit. The list isn't static, either, as names are reviewed and added or dropped each year. If the board doesn't like its choices, though, the list is completely worthless and the company will again look outside its hallowed halls for help, just like it did in Mulally's case.
[Source: Automotive News, subs. req'd]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
tanooki2003 @ Mar 24th 2008 11:09AM
Hire somebody from Europe that ACTUALLY knows about cars, listening to the consumers, and is not afraid to step outside the political boundaries and take some risks to bring the best of the European Ford company to north America.
Mel. R @ Mar 24th 2008 11:19AM
^^^+1 to infinity.^^^
The Other Bob @ Mar 24th 2008 11:54AM
Amen - hire a real car guy, or at least put a car guy in charge of design like GM did.
Randy @ Mar 24th 2008 1:19PM
Yeah, Mays is too "Audi" with his stuff! Half of it is boring! Well the concepts are cool but production models a sometimes boring. Still more exciting than hondas though...
Tagg @ Mar 24th 2008 6:18PM
Um, Mulally is actually leading that charge in creating a more global car lineup. Just read some of the articles regarding Mulally when he asks "why wouldn't this sell ins the U.S.?" He has mentioned that alot of the cues from the Mondeo and other Ford Europe cars will carry over to the U.S. market.
The guy has been at the head of Ford for just over a year! I would imagine it is very difficult to manage a company that is essentially financially broke!!
Gstill @ Mar 24th 2008 11:12AM
I can understand Farley as a hot name right now, but Mark Fields seems like a really bad idea. Almost as bad a hire as Bob Nardelli.
Ben @ Mar 24th 2008 11:17AM
Please hire me, or hell, pretty much half of the people who post on here. We'll do a better job for a lot cheaper.
Tagg @ Mar 24th 2008 6:20PM
Yeah, because everyone here understand labor and materials costs, operations managment, six sigma, and marketing.
Too many people over-simplify how complex it is to manage a huge company like Ford is. I am not saying they do not make it harder on themselves at times but it isn't as simple as "bringing over the European cars" like many think. Alot goes into Mulally's job and it is most likely over my head and many others that THINK they know how to run a multi-billion dollar company staffed with tens of thousands of workers.
jw @ Mar 24th 2008 11:22AM
THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX...THE GUYS WHO WERE WITH FORD GOT THEM INTO THIS TROUBLE IN THE 1ST. PLACE...MY BET IS FARLEY OR ANOTHER IMPORT GUY...
Stéphane Dumas @ Mar 24th 2008 2:57PM
Interesting point about Farley jw, however there still some rumors here and there about the idea of Renault-Nissan tying with Chrysler or Ford and getting Ghosn on board.
jamiepeterson2 @ Mar 24th 2008 11:40AM
Dang y'all.
I didn't even make the short list.
And I am only 5'4"!!!
007baf @ Mar 24th 2008 11:40AM
European, please, European. I bought Ford stock at $5.97 per share thinking it could not possibly sink much lower. Wow, I was wrong, I think it's dipped below $5.00. However, it is on the way up.
So - take a peek at their Euro offerings, they could do awesome stuff with the Mondeo, the Focus, the Ka, the Transit, and on, and on. Seriously, kill the Fusion and make Ford cool and let's hope the stock goes back to the $40 range!
Doug @ Mar 24th 2008 12:07PM
As a Ford dealer, I am very happy with Mullaly. In the event of his departure (which I am not hoping for any time soon) I would like to see Farley. Fields is a good lieutenant but has had a bit of a checkered past the couple years. Stops and starts and not a cohesive plan until Mullaly came. Farley knows what he is doing and brings the energy and passion that is needed.
Randy @ Mar 24th 2008 1:20PM
WAIT A MINUTE: Who said Alan M is going ANYWHERE! WTF. Is this ANOTHER media biased report to say "Ummm, Ford doesn't have a leader so don't buy their stuff"? I mean "rendered speculation" is one thing about cars but saying "The CEO of a company might not work their at some point" is a bit of a scare tactic! Anyone else feeling me on this?
Daniel @ Mar 24th 2008 1:47PM
What FoMoCo needs at the top more than anything is - people with PASSION for great cars!
This ain't rocket science folks.
This passion has to be clearly reflected in all Ford products. Only then can this once great American company regain its rightful place in the world of commerce.
jamiepeterson2 @ Mar 24th 2008 4:51PM
Why is this man smiling?
I guess you would be too with $2 billion more in your pocket and loads of liabilities dumped into the waste basket.
http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/080324/ford_sale.html?.v=2
Tagg @ Mar 24th 2008 6:23PM
Farley is a really good fit because he has said on many occasions he has always been a Ford guy but a Ford guy with Toyota training.
Sandy @ Mar 31st 2008 3:54PM
Farley is good, but will make Ford product follow Toyota styling. I like FIELDS, because he is young & vibrant andis a "Car-Guy".... and look where MAZDA is today; because of Mark Fields!!