Alan Roger Mulally is an American engineer and the former President and CEO of Ford Motor Company. He is widely credited with turning Ford around- from struggling in late 2000’s recession to profitability in his 8 year stint at Ford. Ford was the only one of the Detroit Three (others being GM and Chrysler) that did not ask for a government bailout. His achievements at Ford are documented in the book, An American Icon: Alan Mulally and the Fight to Save Ford Motor Company by Bryce G. Hoffman, published in 2012. He previously worked as the Vice President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes and he was always asked about how would he manage Ford when he had absolutely no knowledge of the automobile sector which is in such a tough financial …show more content…
His cost-cutting initiatives led to the company's first profitable quarter in two years. Dividends to all its shareholders were also suspended. In 2006, Mulally led Ford to borrow US$23.6 billion by mortgaging all of its assets; he intended to use the money to finance a major overhaul and provide “a cushion to protect for a recession or other unexpected event”. Even though his efforts were seen as a sign of desperation at the time, they are now widely credited with stabilizing Ford's financial position. In May 2009, Ford chairman William Clay Ford, publicly said that "Alan was the right choice, and it gets more right every day". His achievements and accolades are many; the important ones are listed here. Mulally was included in the 2009 Time 100 list. The entry, written by Steve Ballmer, says, "[Mulally] understands the fundamentals of business success as well as any business leader I know". In 2011, The Financial Times ArcelorMittal Boldness in Business Awards named Mulally Person of the Year. He was also named the 2011 CEO of the Year by Chief Executive magazine. In 2012, Mulally was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Science by the University of Kansas for his notable contributions to engineering and the transportation …show more content…
Starting from that foundation, it is important to have a compelling vision and a comprehensive plan. Positive leadership—conveying the idea that there is always a way forward—is so important, because that is what one is there for—to figure out how to move the organization forward. Critical to doing that is reinforcing the idea that everyone is included. Everyone is part of the team and everyone’s contribution is respected, so everyone should participate. When people feel accountable and included, it is more fun. It is just more rewarding to do things in a supportive