Auto Industry Management On the Move

It Just Keeps Getting Crazier...

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The news on the personnel front this week is getting to be almost as exciting as the new sheet metal to be rolled out at the Tokyo Auto Show later this month. In the last 30 days, we have seen big executive changes that may have a profound impact on what we drive and how we perceive these brands in question. It all started with Deborah Meyer, who most recently had been guiding marketing for Lexus. She is now doing the same for Chrysler. Then it was Jim Press, who guided Toyota's sales in the U.S. over his 30-year career. He is also now employed by Chrysler, as is Phil Murtaugh, who was instrumental in GM's growth in the important Chinese market.

Then this week, Jim Farley's move to Ford to head its marketing efforts was announced. This may have been the biggest shocker, as Farley is young and was expected by many to be on the fast track to eventually running Toyota's efforts here in the U.S. After all, he managed the launch of Scion as well as the all-important 2007 Tundra, and most recently, was running the entire Lexus division. He knows all sides of the Toyota machine, and will now be reporting to Alan Mulally at Ford. A real coup--and a sign that the talent pool at Ford is as thin as was rumored thanks to chaos and layoffs experienced in the last few years.

I am sure there are many other people that have also made the same move, from a comfortable and successful import brand to a scrambling and fearful domestic. After all, this is a chance to make a real impact in those brands' turnarounds. It is just that they did not make the headlines. The interesting point for me is that the Japanese and Korean companies generally reward loyalty and expect commitment from their employees. The moves of Press, Meyer and Farley must be making their previous managers ready to spit fire and possibly fearful of promoting U.S. talent to such high ranks in the future. This sort of thing just does not happen in Japan, and I expect this new reality will continue as desperate brands continue to poach talent from solid brands…if the person in question is willing to move to Detroit.

Next week I will be on vacation, so do not expect a new "Bell Curve" until the week after when I will be reporting from the Tokyo Auto Show. This is anticipated to be a wild show in its own right, as the number of fantasy/future vehicles will surely exceed the number of true concepts we might drive in the near future. Stay tuned!

Posted on 2007-10-15 | Permalink | |

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