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.
Print it: 
Ford has a case of the 380, remember a few weeks before the 380 was released and the pres quit. We all know how well that did, it shows how much faith Tom had in the falcon doin a runner before it is released, at the end of the day he may have put the last nail in Fords coffin.
As for fords marketing they are idiots, just because it has a german gear box (falcon) does not make it german inspired!
As for the few of you who said ford has a chart topping range, you better go shoot up again before you come back to reality! Toyota had 5 of the top 8 selling cars of last year, now say ford has a top line up
XENI WORRIER PRINCESS…Ford wont release Kluga, Iosis, Verve and Toyota bringing in new models like Klugger, RAV4, Celica, Hilux, etc, etc. What do you call state of the art R&D getting built which is enormous…..these are risks – calculated risks!
So cut the crap and get a grip…sounds like you have numbed and blinded your thinking!
Hopefully this bloke will give the XR n Fairmont models some good direction and make them a different from the base model. I will say he wont be able to use his full extent of his power until they start working on the huntsman falcon but i do hope he does what we all want him to do with ford, and that is for all falcon, fairmont n territory based cars to beat it holden variant in everything. sales, performance, price u all get the picture. Hopefullly he brings back the fairlane n ltd n make the a big step over the fairmont in 2010. Exspecially in the looks department. In 1975 you could never reconise it all a falcon n now it just looks lke a stretched falcon (Im not from the 70’s just seen pics lol). Come on, lets see some real luxury cars with a difference n some balls!!!
NM,
dont you know drugs are bad?
S-L-O-W D-O-W-N
TP,
i love how suddenly toyota doesnt advertise and ford does very much so.
it wasnt so long ago where you were sprooking about toyotas sponsorship with the AFL (the biggest billboard in the country)
what toyota has might be meaningless adverts but its about getting the name out there not necesarrily how sporty the advert is.
Mark,
ha ha ha funny line in penetrating the president ill give you that….very clever
you missed my point.
yes toyota has many top “sellers” but they arent always top in their class for “ability”
therefore meaning they arent the best cars in their class yet they still manage to sell them
toyotas highest 2 selling vehicles the corolla and hilux are far from being the top in their class yet they still sell/sold plenty of them.
NM,
im really not following you when you say fords line up with Falcon, Focus, Fiesta, Ranger, Territory, Mondeo is good/great but the rest is crap…..
well what exactlly is this rest you “keep” talking about?
the escape? is that it?
To Bill Osborne: Please don’t have any Falcon commercials with those stupid european voiceovers like in the Mondeo ads, or you’ll kill Ford Australia. We want people to think it’s made in OZ not in Germany….
Thanks
Oz.
To Cobra 302: I agree!
Im glad there is a new shape coming,not that i dont like ba shape holden has used the same shape since 98 vt,so its due at least we stay 1 step ahead always and more kw alot more.290kw xr8 is nothing to laugh at.hehe.
1. Falcon Orion will be fine (piss poor updates)
2. Fairlane / LTD ????????? average or gone
3. Escape – rubbish
4. Territory – needs update and LPG motor
5. Focus is updated much better
6. Fiesta finally updated better
7. Ranger not pushed enough
8. Mondeo too late released to fill class below Falcon
9. Commercial range only Transit and thus limited
10. 4WD range too limited with Escape and Territory and no mega serious 4WD
Ford cant rest or sleep until its sells big like when the ba came out everyone wanted one, they still do but cant afford it.A ba xr8 and xr6t is still worth 30k just look in a car yard,as for the bf well enough said.
NM, are you trying to tell this “Bill Osborne” what he needs to do to make Ford Australia better?
I know all the ford model names whats good and whats not,escape is not rubbish its like a baby teritory.Do you work at ford or nissan with a name like that i think of nissan maxima which is rubbish i might add.
1. NM = Rubbish, no new updates, poor comments on Ford, complete rubbish assumptions and needs to f-off out a here…
You are spamming this thread like a true junkie, and waxing lyrical about the day Toyota will rule the world in a manner which is blissfully disgusting. State of the art R&D is nothing unique or exceptional, and all of Toyota’s vehicles lack the dynamic prowess of their competitors.
THERES NOTHING INSPIRING OR CUTTING EDGE IN THE RANGE!!!! even the Prius is a wank. So your ’state of the art R&D’ means dick! I’ll concede they are competent and reliable but coma inducing and performance lacks. I bet you will use the 200kW as an example to counter act this but they have no answer for GM and Ford’s heavy hitting V8s. Toyota of present lacks the emotional appeal and their quality is slipping.
The fact you cited Kuga( which is all but confirmed) Iosis ( a styling excersize that foreshadowed Mondeo) and Verve as examples means you know absolutely jack shit about cars, and Rav4, Hilux and Freddy Kluger all have Ford foes.
Its people like you who are starting to make me question the blog movement, because despite the fact you lack knowledge you have to put your moronic opinion on display every five minutes. STFU you mouth-breathing moron.
Toyz r dust trd crew,supra,soarer,celica,hilux,and finally the camary trd which is stale and has nothing on a xr6t. Cant even sell your stale old soarer at the car yard they wont touch em all the above for that matter,10 years time 20 year old car.A 290kw xr8 is nothing to laugh at hehe.
Xenu, that spray was epic.
As for Bill H. Osborne, I hope he is knows how to market and push for the products needed to round out the local range.
His first wake up call will be trying to understand our market.
Anyone have any ideas on how he’s going to be able to do that in the short time frame that Ford Australia has to turn things around.
1. Updates before Orion to Falcon average twice. Nearly next too no model differentiation in cars – have a look at top end Falcons and not much massive differences there!
YES “OZ” – Iam not arguing. My words are here for new CEO.
Who cares about Ford or Holden or Toyota for that matter there is a new King coming and thats the VW group, I mean seriously look at what Vw/ Audi are doing they are building quality cars with quality materials and attention to detail that is 2nd to none, I mean seriously Ford or Holden start building cars with quality I think everyone is just about over quantity its 2008 not 1978. Australia has caught up with the rest of the world we have a taste for premium products not taxis, the old Aussie attitude of that will do just doesn`t cut it anymore and anyone that fires back with what about the new billion dollar baby get ova yourselves[ Audi just ivested 13 Billion into devolpment alone] its still a taxi even if its got a Hsv badge stuck on it, the problem with Holden or Ford is where they start from, if you start with shit you can add as much extras too them as you like but you still end up with shit and the problem with Toyota is and its not there quality its they just build ugly boring cars with bad plasticky interiors, they just aren`t desirable they need some style.
Seems NM is pissed at Ford and is just having a rant at the new CEO……..hoping hes reading this post! Nothing wrong with that at all. Hell Ive done it before and hubby got banned from his dealership for the same thing on the AFF…..
NM is still true to Fords…so all good!
Yes the range better change BM as Iam blue (like my Falcon) – but I like others to and NOT out and out Ford. Come car racing…………….BLUE baby!
Heading in cool direction is 2009 model new Ford Focus ST. Like really CEO taking over….you can do all the crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s and cross checks, etc – future success comes down to slick designs and in particular street appeal. Ford has had mjor trouble with this!
Hopefully Ford adopts the sledgehammer approach of just do it and take some risks – design it right for dam well once and have massive model variation in Falcon range and if luxury models are done…. dont just change grille and thats it as very piss poor and the public have reacted!
Well i think we knoe NM, Reckless and such are just here to get they’re jolly’s off by trying to get people to bite.
So reckless1 what do you say about my intellect??? Who made you the numero uno about who makes the best cars. Its a bloody opinion everyone is entitled to have one. I have a pretty good f***ing idea whats a good car and not considering I work in a car yard and know which cars have problems more than others. What do you do??? You probably sit at your home pc after a long day flipping Big Macs at Maccas pissed off so you think you’ll come here and hang s**t on someone on the internet (you tough bastard you)
My opinion is Ford’s current range of cars is pretty damn good in quality, reliability & style. I didn’t say they were the best but they are very good. Much better than Holden’s line up in my opinion.
BTW NM & Reckless1, Fairlanes & LTDs are still being sold until Orion’s release. Ranger’s have a 4-6 month waiting list because Ford have sold so much (ask my boss he is trying to buy one for himself) Ford’s biggest problem is not the products, its the MARKETING. People as a whole are pretty dumb, they’ll believe most things they are told. How many people are Holden Fans because daddy was??? Good marketing can make a s**t car sound great. I know a few Holden fans that will swear black & blue to me that Barinas, Epicas & Kaptivas are Ozzy made just because Holden cleverly worded their ads for them. (Kaptiva ad mentions ozzy built V6, Epica ad mentions Ozzy engineering)
what u talkin bout willis?
Naughtyius Maximus, why don’t we start a new topic in the forum of what we need to get through to Bill Osborne to help Ford Australia?
NM Im amazed how you know so much about this knew CEO all due to…………….A PHOTO
Just cause he is moving over doesnt mean that every yank in dearbourne michigan is coming over to!
not to bag the site but i highly doubt that Osbourne is going to check every aussie car website to think what runner up Ford CEO Naughtyius Maximus two cents in how to run ford better.
As for the V8 super cars going to Bahrain NZ etc maybe the main part of those races is that we get to see our OWN BREED of vehicle in the global view not european or american Ford and GM product but AUSTRALIAN PRODUCT. I would love to see car movies with the main car being a Senator, Monaro (not pontiac not vxr but HOLDEN) GT, Pursuit etc.
Look you have your gripes trust me we ALL KNOW now knock it off all you are doing is making a dick of yourself
BUBBA…Iam not getting personal on CEO but rather reading Ford at where it is! Facts are clear as noted and Iam not playing the bling man, rather call the fulltime stats on Ford.
I actually see what TP has to put up with and I always admired him even though I stirred him. One reason why… at most times he did get some good facts dug up and rattled most of you.
So Bubba (man with a name like that you have bling or what or not related to this guy?) I suggest you stop playing with it as your struggling!
Struggling at what?
Apart from the ranger comment i havent contested anything you have to say.
In regards to Toyota The guy has points yes the toyota is reliable, yes it is the market leader.
They have earned a good reputation early on starting from the SR Corolla up to present, the hilux has defonatley got a impressive history behind it both these cars are incredibly known as a fantastic basic runabout and remarkable work hack.
but this is in turn leads to my gripes. It seems toyota has cashed in on these vehicles reputation you are now paying 23k for a basic runabout meanwhile compeditors are charging up to 3-4 k less.
Its like the Tonka Truck story. When i was a lad Tonka Trucks were the ultimate boys toy, for 10-15 dollars you could get a big rugged diecast yellow dump truck that could handle the abuse of a 2yr old boy and his siblings could throw at it and still manage to get handed down to the poor cousins to take another 3 years of being left outside in sand boxes and thrown around the place
now 40 dollars buys you a plastic truck with diecast tray if you are lucky. In other words a whole lot of money for a Tonka sticker.
the Hilux is now the designer workhack and the corolla is now the designer basic runabout. big price for bugger all
im not so one eyed as you think my point to you is i can fill up my opinion on how toyota is ripping off the public, how holden caters for yanks more than the australian public (SSV Commodore for under 40k!) but you know what we have all heard it before.
I got no qualms with what you have to say you have some good points your method is what grates me.
type error i meant “fill up this site with ongoing blogs full of my opinion
Glen,
i agree totally with you mate.
how can someone sit at a computer and type along blaming fords range for its lower placed sales on the ladder when it is CLEARLY their hopeless ADVERTISING.
you only need to look at holden. so NM are you saying holdens rnage is heaps better through out than fords hence why they sell a few more cars?
that is the perfect illustration that ford needs to learn how to advertise and promote a strong and healty image.
if no LPG yet on territory is so bad how come you dont “dis” the others for not having LPG on anything at all?
also the transit isnt the only thing in the commercial range….
falcon ute
ranger
transit
econovan……….whats your point there?
Bubba,
great explanation with the tonka illustration.
i know cause i bought one chrissy time (not for my self ha ha ha) and you can get exactlly the same thing on the stand next to it for 10 bucks cheaper with out the tonka sticker.
also i still havent had an answer as to why the corolla and hilux are toyotas 2 best sellers yet both are far from class leaders???
well i suppose you did answer it Bubba….. its that perception thing of getting something much better
Exactly Andrew it is instilled in the general public that the toyota is a reliable car which it is. They can get away with building something with not as much options and features as the compeditiors and still sell millions due to the perception of “cheap runabout”
big bucks for a badge.
Yet the Aurion was a class leader in features in options… sorry your wrong
TP,
Thats only because they are trying REALLY hard to establish a market segment, much the same with the Kluger. The established models are pretty much all underspecced & overpriced.
TP,
im chasing an answer to why the HILUX and COROLLA are their 2 biggest sellers yet both are far from class leaders………
but with the Aurion Bret is right. they are trying to establish a market. it is a common technique for new comers to any sort of market to pack in heaps of features. they wouldnt get noticed otherwise.
but now ford and holden have loaded their falcon and commy with equivalent value anyhow. i think it only took them a few months to top them up.
but if its plain ole good value you are looking for I’d be heading straight to the Mitsu dealer. what they offer in the 380 and the price they sell it at, leaves the other 3 for dead
Quote [NM] Actually TP I would disagree that range numbers about same. Dont know actual numbers, dare say Toyota has more Toyotas versus Ford.
I think your right because the last time I checked Ford didn’t sell any [New] Toyotas.. they Focused [pardon the pun] on Fords.
hahaha….yep …..!^^^^^^^^^
Smart arse..but a cute one at that!hehehe See that time on the cross trainer has paid off for you!
TP
The aurion is a different class altogether. I was referring to the economy class and commercial line ups