View Photo GalleryWelcome to CEO+CEO: Perspectives on Excellence – a series of interviews that give you the opportunity to listen to James Gorman talk with some of the most influential leaders in business.
Our fifth installment of Perspectives on Excellence features Alan Mulally, President and Chairman of Ford Motor Company. Alan began his career at Ford in 2006 after 37 years with Boeing, where he was responsible for all of the company's commercial airplane programs. Largely accredited with saving Ford, Mulally was the subject of the recently published book, American Icon: Alan Mulally and the Fight to Save Ford Motor Company, which chronicles his efforts to break down silos in order to unite Ford under one brand to avoid bankruptcy and drive the company back to profitability. Mulally has been named "Businessperson of the Year" by Fortune, one of "The World's Most Influential People" by TIME, and "Industry Leader of the Year" by Automotive News, in addition to serving on President Obama's Export Council.
In response to the Hurricane Sandy efforts, Morgan Stanley and Ford co-contributed a Ford Transit Connect vehicle to the American Red Cross. Click here, to learn more.
CEO+CEO: James Gorman + Alan Mulally
November 29, 2012
FEATURED TOPICS
Mulally explains the importance of manufacturing as the reason behind his decision to come to Ford in 2006.
Defending his bankrupt competitors in Washington was his toughest business decision, says Mulally, while Gorman comments on fiscal policy challenges.
Mulally discusses his meeting with President Obama, and Gorman comments on the origins of entitlement programs as part of the revenue vs. cost debate.
Mulally reveals the story behind his famous weekly Business Plan Review (BPR) meetings.
Q&A
Mulally attributes Ford's success to the partnership between vision and execution, while Gorman reiterates the need for a business to stay true to its strengths.
When asked about the hypothetical position of "CEO of the U.S. economy", Gorman likens it to China's planned economy.
Mullaly stresses the importance of stakeholders uniting to create an "exciting, viable, profitably growing company", when asked about unions in the future.
Mulally emphasizes the importance of negotiating true free trade agreements as well as addressing currency manipulation.