New president for Ford Australia
January 16, 2008 by Karl Peskett
Just after the news of Chris Gubbey’s departure from Holden, comes the surprise announcement of Tom Gorman’s decision to quit Ford Australia.
Ford Motor Company’s Executive Vice President of Asia Pacific and Africa, John Parker, today announced that Bill H. Osborne will replace Gorman as President of Ford Australia.
“Bill Osborne has a wealth of business and industry knowledge and will be an immense asset to the Ford Australia team,” said Parker. “He has led the Ford of Canada team admirably since November 2005 and is well placed to take the Australian operations to the next level of global integration and significance. Tom Gorman has been an outstanding leader at Ford Australia and has brought the company through some challenging times. He has elected to move onto other exciting opportunities outside the automotive industry and we wish him well in his new role.”
Osborne, 48, who is currently President and CEO of Ford in Canada, has had extensive experience in engineering, sales, and product development. He also has had involvement with the Duratec V6 program, which will make him a perfect fit for the new Orion’s transition between the current Barra engines and the new V6 coming in 2010.
Mr Osborne takes up his role at Ford Australia from 1st of February 2008.
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Good news Tom is gone in my view. The longer he stayed there the more rotund he became. Only in last few months has Australis got Mondeo, Ranger is not long here, Fiesta is not long here, and nothing else. So if someone from Ford in USA turns around and states how great a job Tom did….well very f***ing funny to hear that for me! Hopefully he can spend more time attending motor shows and seeing what I see in Ford model range in Australia is – CRAP.
Now we have a Canack over here, we better not see the poxed up vomit that Ford USA has for sale as they are rubbish. It seems like since 1998 when AU abortion was released that Ford suffered.
LOL..WTF?!
Wheres the argument Ford and Holden are true blue Australian cars…?!
FORD cannot rest on its laurels and release more cars. Trouble is they are so tiresome and slow that they conclude “We cant sell the Iosis, or the Verve or the Kuga as not database history record on release in other countries, we will assess this when the time is right and look at pricing parity to Aussie market”
This is reason Ford are where they are. Useless, lagging on R&D (EcoBOOST motor is testament to closing doors somewhat on much more advanced R&D), not confident to release these cars as must be worried on quality and / or relability. This is why they are useless, disorganised in respect to a weakened line up to compete in Australia and floundering. Go back 10yrs ago and if I asked all PEOPLE ON CARADVICE ON WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE MODEL LINE UP DECLINED AND THE OTHERS LIKE HOLDEN, HYUNDAI AND TOYOTA INCREASED THERES…………….you would all laugh.
FORD AUSTRALIA IS A JOKE………………………..
HENRY FORD MUST BE TURNING IN HIS GRAVE AT WHERE DESIGNS ARE WORLDWIDE AS LAGGING IN MY OPINION!
LOL….true blue maybe.
Are you Ford supporters happy LPG motors not more readily available in
And the quality posts have started!!
Ford’s model range here is pretty ordinary, but they also should market some of the vehicles already in their line-up better. Hopefully the new boss and the new Falcon will arrest the sales slide for them.
Krishan….LOL
Maybe we may get some *bling* models that the AfroAmericans rappers dress up all fine and dandy? :-)
Its a snub at the “Aussie” sub-managment of FOMOCO.
Then again, its a USA company and they have every right to supply any CEO they see fit.
No different to Japper brands, they NEVER have a non-Japper running the show.
Tom was ok in my book, could have waited till Orion was released all the same.
Cheers
F-0
Frugal One….WTF
Hope he will make FoA lead the way and let it break away! And he betta do it right for the Orion or, I don’t want to ever say it but… RIP Ford Falcon 1960-2008 – Hope I’m wrong!
Thought I might do it the way Frugal One does it just for this post
Cheers
Oz.
LOL…you people need a reality check. Falcon will be good. Mondeo, Fiesta and Focus good. Ranger and Territory are ok. REST OF RANGE IS CRAP.
PROTEST LONG AND HARD ON HERE INSTEAD OF ATTACKING ME…let Gummy Bear Basketball Rapper CEO of FORD Aust know you are pissed as the models need to be “MORE” on offer and better look. And if your model aint got the look of style against opposition, downwards one spirals – as Ford has!
WHY DO YOU FORD SUPPORTERS SETTLE FOR LESS WHEN WE DESERVE MORE AND BETTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So Maximus, you agree Falcon, Fiesta, Ranger, territory, Mondeo are all good and the rest crap! That leaves Transit and Escape
The Transit (european Van of the year) currently on a waiting list through Dealers!
Escape! Gotta give you that one!
all the same pretty good line up.
Hey Phoonfan……..You the original Phoonfan…..
Cheers
Tiger xxx
NM………you ok ???????
Looks like maximus is baiting for a fight
morn’n Tigger!
That be me!
It’s interesting that Gormon has left the car industry altogether – that’s what happens when you eat too much company pie, I guess.
He leaves a broken man…..too many losses, too many below average cars, and too many good cars that look below average, and too many too expensive small cars, and too much pathetic marketing and market timing.
Reckless1,
what are the “below average cars”?
What are the “too many good cars that look below average”?
And what are the “expensive small cars and too much pathetic marketing and market timing”?
Who cares ………as long as Rod baby is still in charge of FPV !!!!
And Roddy make it a killa!
Have to wait and see how he performs.
His credentials do seem better than Gorman’s and working his way up from the bottom reminds me of Geoff Polites CV who did wonders with the BA, of course he was an Aussie.
PHOONFAN…Yes Transit is good and forgot it. I like what you say. How many cars are there and volume on ones we like and fact is way behind in 3rd posy overall in sales numbers. Are you happy with that – I aint and then look at Toyota, Hyundai and Holden and there lineup is larger and real competitive.
NM, Ford’s range is equal or better to Toyota, Holden and anyone else lets see.
Falcon -> Commodore -> Aurion/Camry (They’re the same car with different engines get over it)
Mondeo -> Epica (lmao) -> Aurion/Camry
Focus -> Astra/Viva -> Corolla
Fiesta -> Barina (lmao) -> Yaris
Ranger -> Rodeo -> Hilux
Fairlane -> Statesmen -> ???????
Escape -> ?????? -> Rav4
Territory -> Captiva (lmao) -> Kluger
Falcon Ute -> Holden Ute -> ??????
Transit -> ?????? -> ??????
F250/F350 -> ?????? -> ??????
Well I even surprised myself, looks like Ford has a bigger range than both Holden & Toyota. And you’d have to say that the Ford has a far better range than Holden with European sourced models over Korean.
Ford’s lineup isn’t competitive, my foot. There is not one real dud in the Ford lineup, Focus was outselling supply to begin with, Fiesta is a fantastic small car. The new Falcon is coming out very soon and Territory is one of the best family cars ever.
What Ford’s biggest hurdle is not the cars themselves but they’re marketing. Ford has always has been behind on marketing. Holden have this false image of being the only Australian car. Whereas Toyota has the “perception” of being a high quality product, which is true they have a fantastic product but that has been helped by marketing too. Who doesn’t know Toyota’s catch phrase???
Ok………I get where your coming from!
Glen, but the F-Truck and Fairlane are discontinued. But they still have a good range.
Looks like the shifting the chairs on the Titanic again, just like Holden.
Oz, as far as I know the Fairlane is still for sale for a couple of months. But its going to be a sad day when that last fairlane goes down the assembly line.
But I was just making a point that Ford has probably got the biggest range of cars out there, if you take into account or the different series in each model then i say they would have the largest.
Anyways hope this new guy can do the job
Darcy thats a bit rough about the fried chicken bit.
I agree with u Glen. Ford has the better product from a car person’s view point in most cateogories. Lame marketing and dealer network lets em down. I can’t believe how these captains of industry are so dense. Unfortunately I don’t think a yank CEO for Ford will cut it. Look how the Japs and soon Koreans have decimated it. A proper E gas option on Falcon would have caught the others sleeping.
Just got to copy Toyota spin marketing as Glen says and as Hyundai is successfully doing. Hyundai and their best Warrantee is an absolutely brilliant move in winning buyer acceptance. Ford and Holden do a mighty job considering the volume they move. Hopefully Orion and Commodore underpinnings being used for world models will give them greater autonomy and support from the parents.
Didn’t Mister T do some adds for Toyota at some stage?
GLENN….very funny! Why is it the rest of the car buyers find your views irrelevant
FORD ARE SO LAME….have E-Gas option and how hard is that advertised in print media or TV or radio………can tell you as easy answer on that…………..STUFF ALL AS NIL!
REALCARS……………….gee whiz, ummm sales numbers for the year showing Ford 3rd and there Falcon being outsold by Mazda 3 – that pisses me off and you defend the impossible – LMAO so loudly!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And where did you find glum chump proud as punch Ford CEO Mr Mormon………….at the Aussie Motor Show looking forlorn spying on Commodore Wagon.
TOYOTA is business smart as Ford falling over themselves with haphazardous marketting (as the E-Gas is not pushed properly – yet brent crude is at record levels…….you think the penny would drop real loudly at the CEO’s table when not spying looking glumfully at other cars at motor shows – gee only TP and myself read Mormons face and posture properly in that Caradvice post. HA HA HA HA….). The fact Toyota is in front is also compounded by others not having good business acumen, poor marketting, an obsession with quality and reliability and Ford having an average market range. The Mondeo is nice…yet I have NOT SIGHTED ONE, THE RANGER IS RARELY SPOTTED AND THE TRANSIT……LOL, IS THAT ONE A MIRAGE AS ONLY SIGHTED TWO IN BRISBANE.
FORD means a great deal to USA should be the catchphrase!
Just have a look at the sales charts.
Every Ford product is superior to every other manufacturer’s product according to Glen (pity he doesn’t know what Ford doesn’t sell any more, kinda reveals the intellect.)
Is there any market segment where the Ford offering sells more than the Holden or Toyota offering? Jeez, if the buying public was smarter, they’d all buy Fords instead of the Toyota or Holden they are buying now, and Glen would be a happy man…..
Naughtyius Maximus
Seriously you need to RELAX.
Oh shit mazda 3 outselling ford i guess i better trade my falcon in and get a mazda cause thats what the papers are telling me
Who gives a shit?……Really?
Havent seen a ranger go to where they are building the second gateway bridge and you will see at least 20 of the things there
I have seen a shit load of rangers with council stickers on the doors also.
go lie on the couch and take a few deep breaths and REEELAAAX!
Naughtyius Maximus… Mate, you Holden lovers of 1 (ONE) CAR MANUFACTURED DOWNUNDER need to get out of your time warp as the once iconic Aussie maker has deserted you guys bigtime and made you carry on like a pork chop. Time and time again you guys go on with absolute crap and it is only the depth that varies!
Naughtyius Maximus just settle down mate!!! The main reason why Ford is behind it because the Falcon looks to old. wait untill the Orion is on sale FIRST before you carry on like a pork chop, as Bubba Ganush said, the Ranger is a popular council work ute so it’s the Falcon that realy needs an update to lift Ford’s sales.
LOL, overwhelmingly the facts state that the Falcon is declining in numbers! I was merely pointing out the Mazda 3 was ahead of the Falcon. Dont misread the obvious as short end of straw!
Do I need to repeat my self NM?????????????????????????????????????????????????????
I said… WAIT UNTILL THE ORION IS ON SALE BEFORE YOU WINGE!
NM,
gee go off mate!!!! are you trying to get us to stand on top of a hill and lift our kilts (brave heart style) and moon the oppisition?
mate i agree with fords hopeless marketing campaign. that is the main reason they are getting hosed in sales. nothing to do with their products as i believe in many cases they have the class leader.
toyota hoses both ford and holden for vehicle range. who said ford offers more than toyota?
well you were forgetting about Tarago, Avensis, Prius (yes we know its a hopeless car but they still sell it to the government in an effort to get people to like them), the massive landcruiser range and prado versions too.
there are a few more too.
cant remember what other stuff you dribbled NM but another thing i strongly agree with you about (and it makes me bang my head on the desk) is why have ford never marketed the fabulous E-gas range????????
So simple one, I agree the Orion will pick up sales, but you have major issues getting it into your head that sales overall are mountains behind Toyota. Like what part are you missing? The whole lot…..LMAO
Now your talking sense NM. As for range they are about equal overall, yet Toyota sells alot more. I also find it laughable that Ford is better in their range, both sales and quality surveys dont indicate this, the only thing they are superior in is an image of being Australian. But whats this, a yank is replaced by another yank at the top of Ford AUSTRALIA, maybe they should just called it Ford U.S. Gormon is smart though, the skip has jumped out of that burning wreck… now its someone elses problem.
Actually TP I would disagree that range numbers about same. Dont know actual numbers, dare say Toyota has more Toyotas versus Ford.
TP
toyota has a hell of a lot bigger range than ford. how can you read a few examples of mine and still sit there and say it isnt so.
also how many class leading vehicles does toyota have? (bugger all) and they are sales leader.
what does all they mean………………???
simply that toyotas marketing and PR heads know how to make sure cars are sold.
thats the real spot where ford lag behind toyota, not because ford offers total crap like you always suggest
There at the mountain looking down all of you, dazed, confused, fine with were Ford is…….well Iam not and I like Falcon of mine and am annoyed where Ford is going and as I said until they bring in more models that are priced to sell with heaps of inclusions then I will call a spade a spade.
Lets see what Aussie Osbourne does, cause if we get fed some of the crap coming out of USA from Ford then all downhill.
LOL you people reply out there and I asked you people to look at facts a for some reson it gets personal? You should be personally upset at where Ford has treaded water since AU crap release back in 1998 – like me!
Andrew M…I agree marketting has got a lot to do with it. So has history and track record. Glitzy selling is only one factor. In the brew comes the touchy feelie nature of the car…do as I did when know someone who looked at Focus and Corolla as the difference is there laid out in front of you. Toyota take more risks then Ford in regards to model releases in my eyes – like the 2009 Celica coming up is hot and I really dont care its not a Ford as nothing in Ford camp! Toyota have a solid range and have forged ahead with there massive computer simulation for R&D…where has Ford been? Mr Mormon the ex-CEO looking shit worried gazing at Commodore wagon and being on phone talking down pushing ahead Downunder. Thats why he has been flammed as useless and quiet!
Ford’s Australian range is awesome compared to the crap here in the US.
And the marketing here is just as lame also…
if ford wants to pull some sales then yes they must pull their marketing finger out.
their current range in the falcon is good enough for me.
why whinge about the crown in the states when we will never get it because we have the falcon instead.
the main thing ford needs to bring here is the Kuga.
i say getting rid of the boring old Mazda twin would do wonders for sales in the days of an SUV boom. they got it right when the launched the territory though, you got to give them that. they caught everyone else sitting on their hands with that. the only thing is they should have struck again while the iron was hot
Marketing has alot to do with it… get off your high horses…. this country is dominated by marketing efforts by Ford and Holden (not only normal mediums such as TV but this little thing called the V8 supercars) while Toyota apart from sponsorhsips dont really market that well, I certainly havent been influenced for example by those short and meaningless Camry adverts (short live to), or Aurion adverts (again, short lived) or ‘hot’ Corolla advert. Point in case, marketing doesnt effect the crucial stats such as reliability, Toyota has the runs of the board… the people come flocking.
ANDREW M…thats why Iam non-plussed as you know due to vibrant models getting released.
I want to see the Kuga, Verve and Iosis (Ha Ha Ha – my favourite topic) but the coupe Verve and many variants of it. Until that day happens and other models come out then Iam iffy of Ford. Look at the Escape model and then go on American website and looks like Explorer crap over there. There models are average and humdrum and I hate the look. I will ring it loud again and again – go look at USA Ford website as you will struggle to like the cars. My philosphy is out with ex-CEO Ford Aust Mormon (LOL) and reinvent the designers as too Americanised and Ford is truly having issues to whether it looks like Explorer and weirdo stuff in USA and then we go to this kinetic flow design of Verve, Iosis, Kuga, Mondeo, Focus, Fiesta. So its in no mans land and this backed up by regular US guys like Lee, etc.
It really does not matter who runs Ford here really, designs and package sells it. Ford better get it right and land the new breed of non-USA cars here and also broom out the dead wood USA hack designers and put them in charge of an amusement park as there work sux!
….vibrant new models NOT getting released (TYPO ABOVE)
NM; look at the crap you are typing out; Toyota takes risks? They are renowned for being bland and invisible.Who gives a shit if they sell more, they are mind numbing to drive and their current range is truly uninspired.
Stop endorsing Toyota, you heroin-addict blog troll.
TP is right and the sooner we get rid of Red versus Blue and go back to days of Ford Sierra where we get any foreign entrants (other then Commodore and Falcon) in the better. Its double dutch saying Red versus Blue and then go to wherever it was in Arab Emirates and NZ or China with only Australia cars! That is a stupid decision and crap…take the races overseas as has been the case and take overseas cars to include them in all races. WAKE UP CONTROLLING BODY THAT RUNS ARTC ROUNDS!