January 16, 2008 -- Car producer Ford Australia has a new president as it moves to play a bigger role in the auto giant's global operations.

Bill Osborne, 47, currently the chief executive of the Ford Motor Company in Canada, will next month replace Tom Gorman who has led the organisation for almost four years.

Mr Gorman is leaving the company to take up other business opportunities.

"Bill Osborne has a wealth of business and industry knowledge and will be an immense asset to the Ford Australia team," said Ford Motor Company Asia Pacific executive vice president John Parker.

"He has led the Ford of Canada team admirably since November 2005 and is well placed to take the Australian operations to the next level of global integration and significance."

The change comes following one of Ford's most turbulent years in Australia which included a decision to close its engine plant at Geelong in 2010, a move that would axe about 600 jobs.

Around the same time it also announced plans from 2011 to build the Focus, despite small car assembly not the favoured option among local vehicle manufacturers in recent years.

Ford expects to manufacture 40,000 Focus cars each year, many for export to New Zealand, South Africa and other markets.

That will increase its importance to Ford's worldwide operations and help boost vehicle production levels at its Campbellfield assembly plant.

At the time Mr Morgan said manufacturing the Focus would secure Ford's future in Australia.

"This program will really more than double our export footprint, so when we bring Focus in, our ability to export approximately 15,000, more than doubles what we export today, which is a huge part of our long-term strategy," he said.

The Focus will also create 300 jobs at Campbellfield, with some expected to go to those who will lose positions at Geelong.

Ford believes its decision to close the Geelong facility will allow it to improve efficiencies and cut costs as it replaces the locally-made engine with one sourced from the United States.

It was prompted by a period of falling demand for large cars in Australia, largely a response to rising petrol prices.

"The Australian car market has fundamentally and permanently changed," Ford said when it announced its decision.

Today's announcement of a new boss at Ford also means the Melbourne-based company and its key rival Holden will get new chiefs at about the same time.

Last week Holden announced Mark Reuss, 44, would replace Chris Gubbey as chairman and managing director from February.

Despite only take charge at Holden in August last year, Mr Gubbey has been appointed boss of General Motors Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States in Europe.

GM group vice president Nick Reilly said the quick change was an unusual move for the company, particularly in such an important market as Australia.

But Mr Reilly said Mr Reuss was an ideal replacement with extensive leadership experience as well as product engineering and manufacturing knowledge.

Mr Reuss is currently executive director of GM's global vehicle systems and integration.

Source: Asia Pulse