Thread regarding Ford layoffs

Change is coming…Fod is admitting GM has the better talent…

From the Detroit News:

Ford taps former GM global product lead in leadership change-up

Ford Motor Co. on Friday said it has added a former General Motors Co. executive to lead its product development, among a number of other executive changes.

Jim Baumbick, vice president of advanced product development, cycle planning and program, will lead the strategic direction of Ford Europe as its president starting Nov. 1. Replacing him on Oct. 13 is Sam Basile, GM's former vice president of global product programs.

Additionally, Bryce Currie, vice president of manufacturing for the Americas, takes on an expanded role covering global manufacturing and safety as chief manufacturing officer. Andrew Frick, president of Ford Blue and Model e, also will add luxury brand Lincoln's global retail business to his responsibilities, though Lincoln President Joaquin Nuño-Whelan will continue in his role and report to Frick.

Disruption has been a consistent factor for the automotive industry as of late. A fire at an aluminum plant in New York has rattled the supply chain, especially at Ford, which uses the metal to make the bodies of its best-selling F-Series pickups. U.S. tariffs continue to create uncertainty. The Trump administration's rollback on what the president considered an "EV mandate" could halve electric vehicle sales. Ford is in the midst of a restructuring in Europe as it focuses on its commercial business there.

"These global leadership appointments," Ford CEO Jim Farley said in a statement, "underscore our relentless commitment to building a truly world-class team across Ford, united by a singular focus: delivering product excellence and quality for our customers globally."

Basile last worked at GM in 2023 and since has been in private consulting, according to his LinkedIn. He collected three decades of experience at GM, including globally in China, South Korea and Europe. He'll report to Ford Chief Operating Officer Kumar Galhotra. Baumbick in Europe will work with leaders in the region, oversee product development for that market and and drive cost savings. He'll report to Vice Chair John Lawler.

Ford also shared the retirements of Chuck Gray, vice president of vehicle hardware engineering, and Darren Palmer, vice president of EV programs.

Gray, who contributed to Ford's industrial system, retires Dec. 1. Charles Po-n, director of electrified propulsion engineering, will succeed him, making the transition starting Nov. 1. He'll report to Galhotra.

Palmer was a founding member of Team Edison, which has evolved into the Model e EV division and launched Ford's all-electric models: the Mustang Mach-E SUV, F-150 Lightning pickup and E-Transit commercial van. His retirement takes effect Nov. 1.


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| 3231 views | | 14 replies (last October 15) | Reply
Post ID: @OP+1k77851xb

14 replies (most recent on top)

I disagree with the premise of this post. GM isn't taking our top executive leadership (DF, KG, etc) which is what really matters, but we are taking their's. So what's the problem?

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Post ID: @zv+1k77851xb

What is known about this new GM guy ? He's coming here after a full career at GM. Doesn't exactly give off vibes that he is an up and comer, but does give off vibes that he may be here to cut heads and shutdown areas.

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Post ID: @zk+1k77851xb

There’s a lot of senior leadership from GM jumping of the wagon due to the current stack ranking that push management to put people into low performance and within six months end up laying off. Also this taking lowers the team GM bonus 50% if you are rank as low performance. But if you are top achiever you'll get 125% hahaha so it make it cheaper. Arden Hoffman came with this system she is a real bi--h.
If you look really close several directors are moving out of GM like Justin Zielinski

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Post ID: @g6+1k77851xb

@a2 This seems like a fixable problem with a bit of teamwork, why do they make it so hard to work on for basic maintenance?

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Post ID: @g1+1k77851xb

If po-n is the best in-house available, I would take any GM.

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Post ID: @f6+1k77851xb

It's a mindset thing. What's more importatnt at Ford? Your level because this is how people call personnel, e.g. "you need to get LLx approval" etc. That tells you right away what your level is and it puts you in your place. You don't even know what the LLx person does. At GM, people are called by their roles and how the role provides value to the whole org. Having worked at both, coming from GM this is the big difference you'll notice away.

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Post ID: @ej+1k77851xb

Funny thing is Mr po-n has a surname the Internet censors

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Post ID: @eg+1k77851xb

Many people that you mentioned never really brought any value. They are just pones in the chess games who are shuffled around.

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Post ID: @c5+1k77851xb

Its strange that GM managers do not go to Ford. The main problem that starts at Ford is the interview process. Easy to get in. GM interviews used to be in many sessions with hard STAR questions. I don't say that its the right way, but you really need to prepare to get a job at GM.

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Post ID: @c4+1k77851xb

And guess which clowns are still in charge. Billy, Fartley and his lap dog DF.
Ford is going no where with this set up except down.

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Post ID: @ah+1k77851xb

I worked at both Ford and GM for more than a dozen years each. Working at GM was better than working at Ford. Both places had psychopaths, but GM had less of them and, overall their management was far superior to what I experienced at Ford.

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Post ID: @ag+1k77851xb

Never heard of this former GM leader.

I doubt very much he is equal talent to Model e leadership.

But I will give my support.

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Post ID: @af+1k77851xb

At least their hiring from GM and not Silicon Valley.

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Post ID: @a8+1k77851xb

The grass is not greener over in GM land. I have talked to suppliers and they say its the same $hit show everywhere.

And for Farley and his 6000 empty hoists....not too many years ago one of the management clowns said that quality was so good they were ready to turn the service bays into showrooms.... The truth is working on modern cars is a PIA. Nothing is easy and fast. Even an oil change is removing shields and covers.

I couldn't make this stuff up if I didn't hear the dribble from the glass house..

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Post ID: @a2+1k77851xb

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