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The worldwide boss of Ford, Jim Farley, has made a rapid-fire pre-Christmas go to to Melbourne.
It was his first journey to Australia since he turned chief government officer of the Ford Motor Firm in October 2020.
Mr Farley was accompanied on his tour of native services by the previous head of Ford Australia, Kay Hart, who’s now the president of Ford’s Worldwide Markets Group.
The worldwide head of Ford Efficiency, Mark Rushbrook, was additionally a member of the Farley occasion on one in all his semi-regular visits to Australia as head of the motorsport operation within the USA that features Supercars in Australia.
Mr Farley managed to mix work with some play, as he jumped behind the wheel of a Supercars racer for warm laps on the Calder Park observe on the outskirts of Melbourne.
“Thank goodness we go racing,” Mr Farley stated.
His go to included time on the headquarters of Ford Australia, in addition to a visit to the remanufacturing facility at Mickleham the place RMA Automotive is switching the Ford F-150 pickup to right-hand drive.
Ford’s Nationwide Components Distribution Centre, positioned next-door to the F-150 facility, was one other cease.
He additionally did an all-staff City Corridor Assembly at Broadmeadows, the place Ford Australia nonetheless maintains an in depth analysis and improvement facility – together with a design studio – that works on a variety of worldwide initiatives for Ford together with the Ranger pickup that’s then manufactured in Thailand.
Mr Farley’s time with Ford’s 5 Supercars groups included a catch-up with Dick Johnson, in addition to Ford Mustang racer Cam Waters, whom he had beforehand met when the pair have been doing particular person driver coaching periods within the UK.
His rapid-fire immersion at Ford Australia additionally included gamers from the Geelong Cats, the AFL soccer workforce sponsored by Ford, in addition to Ford prospects and house owners of basic Falcons.
The Ford boss is a eager racer who owns a Ford GT40 basic sports activities automotive and a brand new Ford Mustang GT4, and had beforehand turned sizzling laps within the USA in a Supercars’ Mustang shipped from Australia.
This time he rode alongside Mr Waters earlier than taking the wheel of the automotive, because it had raced to victory on the Adelaide 500 final month in a tribute livery to the late Ken Block and Monster Power. His early velocity was restricted by soaking-wet observe circumstances at Calder however he went progressively faster because the observe dried.
“It is a dream come true for a CEO,” he stated.
“That was enjoyable. A lot extra enjoyable than the trendy race vehicles I’ve pushed. It’s all in regards to the driver.
“On the improper facet of the automotive… ” Mr Farley laughed.
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