Ford Australia President shock resignation
August 22, 2008 by George Skentzos
Ford Australia President Bill Osborne has announced his shock resignation, less than eight months after taking on the top job.
This news follows the proposed loss of 350 jobs from Ford’s workforce on the back of slowing FG production as a result of declining demand for large cars.
Osborne stated in a telephone press conference this afternoon that he would return to the US to take on a job outside the automotive industry.
Having worked in a variety of roles within Ford for the past 18 years, he has been at the helm of Ford Australia since February 2008, in that time overseeing the crucial launch of the new FG Falcon range.
He leaves in a similar fashion to former Ford Australia President Tom Gorman who relinquished the position he had held since 2004 also to take on a role outside the automotive industry.
Osborne insists the decision to resign was a personal choice, and is in no way related to Ford Australia’s current difficulties.
“I still believe Ford is destined for success,” Osborne said. “I remain a Ford stockholder and I retain the utmost confidence in the company.”
During his short stint, Osborne had been instrumental in developing a new business plan for Ford Australia, including the decision to produce the Focus locally from 2011, leaving the company on “a very sound footing for the next few years”.
His resignation will take effect come September, with Ford Australia to announce his successor in the coming weeks.
Print it: 
Ill email you my response NM………….
thanks for opening my eyes….
it appears there are a hell of a lot of 13yr old girls out there too.
i would have thought grant denyer was only 12 with his height…. but oh well…13 it is
You also have my response Andrew……….not impressed!
NM I find it ironic that in your post [August 25th 2008 at 7:49 pm] you say to Bavarian Missile that she should live life and not on QWERTY on silly Facebook.
Yet I have notices that on a number of recent articles on this site you yourself are one of the major contributors infact there are occassions where you have 2-3 sometimes 4 comments one immediately after the other..
So one could be mistaken for thinking that it is actually you who doesn’t have the life.
Andrew.M 15-17L/100kms EB on gas. Not great but still much cheaper than pertol ;-)
Wow– I thought that we were patriotic in America. I met and hosted Bill Osborne 2 years ago at a dinner event. He was Pres. of Ford of Canada at the time. His announcement shocks me, as well. I wish him and PARTICULARLY Ford the best of luck! My house value depends on the latter.
NUTTER
1. Iam not on here mega heaps and when Iam I comment
2. I keep it car related as much as possible (without the facebook mega chit chat personal stuff tet a tet)
My point is not to attack BM….its ok to querty and pass comment. I do it on CARADVICE as banter and what not is ok and its irrelevant I put response up 2, 3 or 4times. Whats relevant is BM does it on here and then on FACEBOOK. Just not into the FACEBOOK as old hat I guess! LMAO
Ford need someone with the vision of Geoff Polites again. But as the industry is in tatters, the car industry might need more than just one man
Have alook at news on drive. Mullaly’s not ruling out FWD for future FALCONS. I say get fked Mullayly. FWD would ruin the great FALCON.
yeah, i’m surprised no-one else has picked up on that story yet. And we all thought C-A was on the ball when it came to news like this. It’s not like it was an off the cuff remark, he said it at a press conference.
You can hear the Holden fans laughing already, here comes the new Ford Camry. Imagine the comparisons… TRD Aurion V XR6 Turbo Front Wheel Drive. All the ford nuts will quietly let the term “torque steer” dissapear from their vocabulary!
I doubt any Falcon fans would continue to buy it in FWD. We already have a similar sized FWD in the Mondeo.
Never forget the major faux paus with Alan Mullaly and Dearborn…..that is they do what they think without consultation majorily back to Ford Aus! I say “Get st*ffed with your regimental shyte as you cant read market right here in terms of design and trends”
CHOCOLATE MAN HAS LEFT THE BUILDING…
LOL
LOL? Seriously, Ningbo? LOL? You make a disgusting comment like that and it makes you Laugh Out Loud?
You’ve a long way to go if that’s as good as you can do.