Local Man Makes Good At Ford

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday September 27, 2008

Toby Hagon

AN AUSTRALIAN will run one of the country's three remaining car makers for the first time since 2004, after the appointment of Marin Burela (pictured) as president and chief executive of Ford Australia.

Burela, who started his career at Ford Australia in 1984 before taking up various overseas executive postings from 1998, will become the third Ford Australia boss in less than a year, after the shock resignation of Bill Osborne last month.

He is the first Australian boss for Ford since the late Geoff Polites left in 2004 to pursue a career at Ford in Europe and, later, become the global boss of Jaguar and Land Rover.

Burela is acutely aware of the challenges facing Ford locally. He recently described Ford Australia as the "Falcon motor company" when citing the challenges of shifting its large-car dependence to smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles in an era of increased environmental awareness and high petrol prices.

Burela's enthusiasm and experience in the areas of manufacturing, sales, marketing and product development is seen as a strong fit for Ford Australia, where he started his career.

His expertise in small cars - he was most recently the vehicle line director for global small vehicles - is seen as crucial as the industry battles the largest ever shift in buyer tastes in the wake of volatile fuel prices and increased environmental concerns.

"Burela's strong leadership and broad experience within Ford Motor Company will be vital to driving the successful future of Ford Australia's operations," says Ford's executive vice-president, John Parker.

"As a Geelong native, his return to Ford Australia allows him to lead not only one of Ford's more strategic global markets but one for which he has a strong affinity."

Burela takes up the top post at Ford's Broadmeadows headquarters on October 1 as the company prepares to build a Focus hatchback in Australia from 2011 while trying to arrest flagging sales of its locally made Falcon and Territory in the wake of a shift away from large cars.

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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