The Beginning of the End?

[budrichard]

"DEARBORN, MI – Ford Motor Company announced today that Hans-Olov Olsson will retire from the company effective Jan. 1, 2007. Simultaneously, the Board of Directors of Volvo Cars elected Lewis Booth Chairman of the Board succeeding Mr. Olsson. Mr. Booth, 58, continues in his role as Executive Vice President, Ford of Europe and Premier Automotive Group.

Mr. Olsson, 64, was non-executive Chairman, Volvo Cars, as well as serving as Ford Motor Company's Chief Marketing Officer for the past year, with responsibility for developing corporate marketing strategy in support of all of the company's brands. A successor in the Marketing position is not being announced at this time.

Formerly, Mr. Olsson was Chairman of the Board of Volvo Car Corp. Prior to that, he was Chief Executive Officer and President of Volvo Cars. He was born in Åmal, Sweden and received his MBA at the University of Gothenburg in 1966. In 1973, Mr. Olsson studied International Senior Management at Harvard University in Vevey, Switzerland.

Mr. Olsson began his career as a systems engineer responsible for production, control, logistics and procurement for Volvo Cars and Trucks in 1966. He went on to hold a series of Volvo management positions in markets all over the world, including the U.S., Japan and Europe.

"Hans-Olov's knowledge of the business and his record of success stand as a testament to his outstanding career," said Alan Mulally, president and CEO, Ford Motor Company. "We wish Hans-Olov and his family all the best as he moves to this new chapter in his life."

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures and distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 300,000 employees and more than 100 plants worldwide, the company’s core and affiliated automotive brands include Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo. Its automotive-related services include Ford Motor Credit Company. "

From the day Ford acquired Volvo, I was waiting for Ford to push out Volvo management and install its 'Bean Counter' guys. Ford has done such a great job of management and of course has joined the Marketing view that Advertising and Marketing can sell anything to the Public including junk. All one has to do is to design and build a product whose only regard is Profit. Marketing will take care of the rest. I have observed too many compnaies go down this road not to believe Volvo's days as a unique safety/long time design/reliability perspective company are gone. -Dick