Michigan Assembly (Bronco) Plant Manager Out as of Thursday July 14

[flip]

Frederiek is gone? Holy shit, I need to buy a lottery ticket!

ETA: I thought about my post and wanted to clarify so I don't sound more of a dick than people already think I am. I have nothing against Frederiek personally and have never met the guy. He has been the the FCSD head for the majority of period I believe the parts and service end of Ford has taken a significant downturn. There's nothing I can say that directly puts the blame or responsibility on him but after being in that position and promising action, change and transparency what other conclusion can you draw? It was painfully obvious from several business meetings he had no, and I mean absolutely NO clue, what we were fighting on our end nor seemed to have ideas on how to fix. I get it if leadership had his hands tied but you would think at some point you really aren't in charge and GTFO.

I don't know what upstream challenges he faced, if he was just a victim of circumstances like the rest of us or made decisions that worsened the problems we have now. No ill will is wished but the consensus among most of the dealer body is a change in this leadership position is long overdue. The next person may not fair any better but sunlight is the best disinfectant and for this, I mean transparent, accurate, timely communication.

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[TheDoctor]

... should be the engineers in charge of windshield design, manufacture, and assembly line installation.

Well...when there appear to be multiple issues at times from the production process, you can't fire everyone. But if the guy who is "the buck stops here" person, and that person didn't seem to address the issues, someone is going to get the axe eventually.

 

[mcon33]

Lots of opinions he was canned. Who knows. Maybe he left for a better gig. Might explain why there wasn’t backfill ready to announce.

In my industry, you give two weeks and if you’re leaving for role in the same field(competitor)they walk you out at that moment and pay you the two weeks.

Best of luck to him whatever it is.

Same here. No way are we risking you sabotaging our systems or heisting data or anything like that. IT world struggles.

 

[Ft. Worth Rob]

His replacement will be the Chief engineer of the Everglades. I think she’s a hard ass.

And can stand in 3.1" deeper water without drowning. (Everglades snorkel joke)

 

[North7]

Hau Thai-Tang and Frederiek Toney to Retire; Dave Bozeman (Amazon) Joins Ford

• Hau Thai-Tang, chief industrial platform officer, retiring Oct. 1
• Frederiek Toney, vice president, global Ford Customer Service Division, retiring Dec. 1
• Dave Bozeman joining Sept. 1 to lead global FCSD and Enthusiast Vehicles product line in Ford Blue, following senior transportation, logistics, engineering roles at Amazon, Caterpillar, Harley-Davidson

Excerpt:

In a related announcement, Ford said that Dave Bozeman will start with the company Sept. 1 as vice president of the global Ford Customer Service Division and the Enthusiast Vehicles product line in Ford Blue. He was elected a corporate officer by Ford’s board of directors.

As the head of FCSD, Bozeman will play a key role in delivering industry-leading customer-service experiences by further developing trust, loyalty and always-on customer relationships – all of which are central to the Ford+ plan for growth and value creation. He and his team will be responsible for global parts, accessories and vehicle personalization; material planning and logistics for FCSD; and best-in-class customer service experiences.

Bozeman will also head the Ford Blue enthusiast brands in the United States, including Bronco, Mustang and Raptor. With the assignment, Ford Blue now has operational leaders for each of its key vehicle segments: trucks (Andrew Frick), family (Kiersten Robinson) and enthusiast. Bozeman will report to Galhotra.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dave to our Ford leadership team,” Galhotra said. “He has a unique skillset and a track record of success at some of the most respected and iconic companies in the world.”

Bozeman was most recently vice president of Amazon Transportation Services, overseeing all aspects of middle-mile transportation that enabled delivery of customer orders via the fastest and most convenient modes across the company’s global operations. Prior to Amazon, he was a senior vice president and head of the Caterpillar Enterprise System Group, the order-to-delivery organization aligned with Caterpillar’s critical processes and support groups to improve manufacturing and supply chain capabilities worldwide. Earlier, Bozeman held senior leadership positions at Harley-Davidson, the storied American motorcycle manufacturer.

“I felt a sense of mission and a commitment to positive change from everyone I met at Ford,” said Bozeman. “I’m a builder and love to innovate, and the opportunity to be part of transforming this great company and improving people’s lives resonated with me as an exciting exclamation point for my career.”

Bozeman, a Chicago native, earned a bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering Technology/Mechanical Design from Bradley University in Peoria, Ill., and a master’s degree in Engineering Management from the Milwaukee School of Engineering.

Source: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220714005834/en/Ford’s-Thai-Tang-and-Toney-to-Retire-After-Stellar-Careers-Dave-Bozeman-Joins-Ford-to-Lead-FCSD-Enthusiast-Vehicles

Great news, if it wasn't broke, they would not need to fix it.

As the head of FCSD, Bozeman will play a key role in delivering industry-leading customer-service experiences by further developing trust, loyalty and always-on customer relationships – all of which are central to the Ford+ plan for growth and value creation.

 

[mattymik]

Ford needed a scape goat for the Bronco issues. Looks like they found one.

Scape G.O.A.T. mode

 

[Silver-Bolt]

We all know that the one plant manager is solely responsible for all of the plant delays. Everything Bronco will now be smooth sailing and 1-2 week lead times on all builds. Good thing an internet forum is privy to all of his responsibilities.

Nobody even knows for certain he was fired.

 

[Gizmo]

Cmon FORD, make me proud you are in Michigan.

 

[jddunfee]

Don't worry, Ford will act fast and have his replacement within a year... Or two... Or "Manager" year '23.

 

[Hudman316]

After watching Ford for the last 2 years, I don’t blame him.

You don’t think the plant manager has any blame on this fiasco?

 

[Hudman316]

Don't worry, Ford will act fast and have his replacement within a year... Or two... Or "Manager" year '23.

They wait too long to fire incompetent managers but replace them immediately.

 

[Letagoavs710]

You don’t think the plant manager has any blame on this fiasco?

You want to blame the guy running the plant for; a bad rollout, lies, woefully ignorant communication mixed with miscommunication, arrogance, part shortages and bad top design? Don’t think he’s the problem.

 

[mike8675309]

You all are looking from your perspective. From the manufacturing leader's perspective, this may look like a success, orchestrating significant supply line issues to get out as much product as he has. Some manufacturers are struggling more than Ford by a long shot.
It might have been that he got a better offer from somewhere else that wants a similar turnaround.

 

[Cable Guy]

Hau Thai-Tang and Frederiek Toney to Retire; Dave Bozeman (Amazon) Joins Ford

• Hau Thai-Tang, chief industrial platform officer, retiring Oct. 1
• Frederiek Toney, vice president, global Ford Customer Service Division, retiring Dec. 1
• Dave Bozeman joining Sept. 1 to lead global FCSD and Enthusiast Vehicles product line in Ford Blue, following senior transportation, logistics, engineering roles at Amazon, Caterpillar, Harley-Davidson

Excerpt:

In a related announcement, Ford said that Dave Bozeman will start with the company Sept. 1 as vice president of the global Ford Customer Service Division and the Enthusiast Vehicles product line in Ford Blue. He was elected a corporate officer by Ford’s board of directors.

As the head of FCSD, Bozeman will play a key role in delivering industry-leading customer-service experiences by further developing trust, loyalty and always-on customer relationships – all of which are central to the Ford+ plan for growth and value creation. He and his team will be responsible for global parts, accessories and vehicle personalization; material planning and logistics for FCSD; and best-in-class customer service experiences.

Bozeman will also head the Ford Blue enthusiast brands in the United States, including Bronco, Mustang and Raptor. With the assignment, Ford Blue now has operational leaders for each of its key vehicle segments: trucks (Andrew Frick), family (Kiersten Robinson) and enthusiast. Bozeman will report to Galhotra.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dave to our Ford leadership team,” Galhotra said. “He has a unique skillset and a track record of success at some of the most respected and iconic companies in the world.”

Bozeman was most recently vice president of Amazon Transportation Services, overseeing all aspects of middle-mile transportation that enabled delivery of customer orders via the fastest and most convenient modes across the company’s global operations. Prior to Amazon, he was a senior vice president and head of the Caterpillar Enterprise System Group, the order-to-delivery organization aligned with Caterpillar’s critical processes and support groups to improve manufacturing and supply chain capabilities worldwide. Earlier, Bozeman held senior leadership positions at Harley-Davidson, the storied American motorcycle manufacturer.

“I felt a sense of mission and a commitment to positive change from everyone I met at Ford,” said Bozeman. “I’m a builder and love to innovate, and the opportunity to be part of transforming this great company and improving people’s lives resonated with me as an exciting exclamation point for my career.”

Bozeman, a Chicago native, earned a bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering Technology/Mechanical Design from Bradley University in Peoria, Ill., and a master’s degree in Engineering Management from the Milwaukee School of Engineering.

Source: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220714005834/en/Ford’s-Thai-Tang-and-Toney-to-Retire-After-Stellar-Careers-Dave-Bozeman-Joins-Ford-to-Lead-FCSD-Enthusiast-Vehicles

Levine better have his resume updated…. 🫰🫰🫰🫰

 

[Razorbak86]

FWIW, these kinds of personnel moves rarely happen in a vacuum, so let’s step back and examine the recent timeline of events, starting with the recent corporate reorganization announced in early March.

Timeline of Events

• Jim Farley (CEO) announces corporate reorganization into three separate automotive business units (Detroit Free Press, 3/2/22)
  • Ford Model e (electric vehicles), led by Farley
  • Ford Blue (internal combustion engines), led by Kumar Galhotra, formerly President of Ford Americas & International Markets Group.
    • ”The rest of [Galhotra’s] team will be revealed soon,“ a Ford spokesperson told the Free Press.
  • Ford Pro (commercial), led by Ted Cannis.
  • Ford's new structure is effective immediately, though it will take time to fully evolve, as "two distinct but strategically interdependent auto businesses."
  • Meanwhile, the Ford Blue team "will be hellbent on delivering leading quality, attacking waste in every corner of the business, maximizing cash flow and optimizing our industrial footprint," Farley said in the release.
  • Ford Blue will strengthen the F-Series, Ranger and Maverick trucks, Bronco and Explorer SUVs and Mustang with investment in new models. Ford also plans to invest in brand new ICE vehicles, such as the truck fleet, but Farley declined to go into detail now.
• Ford Announces Hiring of Dave Bozeman, formerly of Amazon, Caterpillar, & Harley Davidson (Business Wire, 7/14/22)
  • Bozeman will start with the company 9/1/22 as VP of the global Ford Customer Service Division and the Enthusiast Vehicles product line in Ford Blue.
  • He was also elected a corporate officer by Ford’s board of directors.
  • “As the head of FCSD, Bozeman will play a key role in delivering industry-leading customer-service experiences by further developing trust, loyalty and always-on customer relationships – all of which are central to the Ford+ plan for growth and value creation. He and his team will be responsible for global parts, accessories and vehicle personalization; material planning and logistics for FCSD; and best-in-class customer service experiences.”
  • “Bozeman will also head the Ford Blue enthusiast brands in the United States, including Bronco, Mustang and Raptor. With the assignment, Ford Blue now has operational leaders for each of its key vehicle segments: trucks (Andrew Frick), family (Kiersten Robinson) and enthusiast. Bozeman will report to Galhotra.”
  • “We are thrilled to welcome Dave to our Ford leadership team,” Galhotra said. “He has a unique skillset and a track record of success at some of the most respected and iconic companies in the world.”
  • Bozeman was most recently vice president of Amazon Transportation Services, overseeing all aspects of middle-mile transportation that enabled delivery of customer orders via the fastest and most convenient modes across the company’s global operations. Prior to Amazon, he was a senior vice president and head of the Caterpillar Enterprise System Group, the order-to-delivery organization aligned with Caterpillar’s critical processes and support groups to improve manufacturing and supply chain capabilities worldwide. Earlier, Bozeman held senior leadership positions at Harley-Davidson, the storied American motorcycle manufacturer.
• Departure of MAP Plant Manager, Erik Williams (Detroit Free Press, 7/15/22)
  • “Michigan Assembly Plant manager Erik Williams, who has overseen the production of the bestselling Ford Bronco and Ford Ranger mid-size pickup truck, left that role Thursday [7/14/22], the Free Press has learned.”
  • Ford spokesman Said Deep declined to discuss why Williams left.
  • “We do not comment on individual personnel matters. However, we can confirm he is no longer with the company," Deep told the Free Press on Friday. Ford also hasn’t yet named a replacement for Williams, who has been employed by Ford since 2004.

Coinkydink? I think not.

I suspect that Williams’ departure, whether voluntary (i.e., to pursue a new &/or better opportunity) or involuntary (i.e., pushed out or terminated), is directly related to the corporate reorganization and Galhotra’s new management team and organization within Ford Blue.

Do I know this for certain?

• Absolutely not.

Is this a plausible explanation?

• Yes, not only plausible, but likely.

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