Ford Catches One Of Toyota's Big Fish

Ford Motor Co. today said that James D. Farley, group vice president
of Toyota Motor Co.'s Lexus Division, will be Ford's first chief
marketing and communications officer.

"We are thrilled to welcome one of the most successful and talented
leaders in the industry to the Ford Motor Company team," CEO Alan
Mulally said in a statement, confirming a story first reported in this
column today. "Jim Farley is well known for innovative marketing
strategies that connect great products to today's and tomorrow's
customers. Ford's quality and vehicles are now on par with the best of
the competition. We look forward to Jim's leadership to combine world-
class marketing with our world-class products worldwide."

The move is a signature appointment by Mulally, who has openly
criticized Ford's marketing efforts and signaled his desire to install
top marketing talent at the Glass House. Farley's arrival also will be
yet another high-profile defection from vaunted Toyota to a Detroit
automaker, suggesting that highly regarded industry pros see
opportunity in their beleaguered rivals.

"Farley is their superstar," a source familiar with the situation told
me today, adding that Ford has been talking with Farley off and on for
a year. "It's a done deal. This is a good move for us. This is the guy
we wanted. He has an engineering background."

The appointment of Farley, 45, was approved today by Ford's directors.
As the first head of global marketing and communications for Ford, he
would assume what is arguably the industry's most monumental marketing
challenge. Ford has foundered amid weak campaigns, discarded and then
revived brand names like Taurus, poor product definition and plunging
market share.

Under Mulally, an aerospace engineer and 37-year veteran of Boeing Co.
before arriving at Ford last fall, key marketing decisions -- such as
reviving the Taurus model name -- have been pushed by him, a engineer-
cum-CEO who understands his limitations in the marketing world.

It's hard to overstate the symbolism of Farley's appointment by Ford.
That a rising Toyota star, the head of Lexus and a founder of its
Scion youth brand would bolt the Japanese juggernaut for the
struggling Blue Oval is a testament to Mulally's leadership, the
strength of Ford's current lineup, the promise of its future products
and the upside in it all.

And unlike Chrysler LLC, which could use the opaque world of private
equity to woo Farley's old boss, Jim Press, from Toyota North America
to Auburn Hills, Ford is doing so in the more transparent world of
public companies.

These moves are not accidental, but instead telegraph a determination
to land top talent at Detroit companies that have historically shunned
outsiders. Not anymore. Both Ford and Chrysler now are headed by
industry outsiders whose paths to the CEO offices here were paved by
their success elsewhere and their willingness to look outside their
new companies for the best marketing talent they can find.

Mulally, for one, has long been an admirer of Toyota. While head of
Boeing's commercial aviation unit, he studied its production methods
and adapted them to aircraft assembly. Nor is he shy about conceding
that the model he envisions for Ford -- "one Ford," built around the
promise of a solid Blue Oval, not ancillary, money-losing luxury
brands -- is the Toyota model.

Before heading Lexus, the nation's top-selling luxury brand, Farley
was group vice president of Toyota Division marketing. He was
responsible for all Toyota Division market planning, advertising,
merchandising, sales promotion, incentives and Internet activities. He
also served as vice president of Scion, Toyota's youth-oriented brand.

Farley, who earned a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University and
an MBA from UCLA, joined Toyota in 1990 in the strategic-planning
department.

---end of article ----

Very interesting. First Chrysler lures Toyota's Jim Press away, and
now Ford grabs Farley. Either Toyota has an over abundance of talent,
is cleaning house after a string of recent recalls or maybe after
climbing the mountain to the #1 spot (it's easier to get there than
stay there) it's starting to come apart at the seams. We shall see...

Patrick

I read this the other day. I wonder if it will make a difference for
Ford.

wrote:
> Ford Motor Co. today said that James D. Farley, group vice president
> of Toyota Motor Co.'s Lexus Division, will be Ford's first chief
> marketing and communications officer.
>
> "We are thrilled to welcome one of the most successful and talented
> leaders in the industry to the Ford Motor Company team," CEO Alan
> Mulally said in a statement, confirming a story first reported in this
> column today. "Jim Farley is well known for innovative marketing
> strategies that connect great products to today's and tomorrow's
> customers. Ford's quality and vehicles are now on par with the best of
> the competition. We look forward to Jim's leadership to combine world-
> class marketing with our world-class products worldwide."
>
> The move is a signature appointment by Mulally, who has openly
> criticized Ford's marketing efforts and signaled his desire to install
> top marketing talent at the Glass House. Farley's arrival also will be
> yet another high-profile defection from vaunted Toyota to a Detroit
> automaker, suggesting that highly regarded industry pros see
> opportunity in their beleaguered rivals.
>
> "Farley is their superstar," a source familiar with the situation told
> me today, adding that Ford has been talking with Farley off and on for
> a year. "It's a done deal. This is a good move for us. This is the guy
> we wanted. He has an engineering background."
>
> The appointment of Farley, 45, was approved today by Ford's directors.
> As the first head of global marketing and communications for Ford, he
> would assume what is arguably the industry's most monumental marketing
> challenge. Ford has foundered amid weak campaigns, discarded and then
> revived brand names like Taurus, poor product definition and plunging
> market share.
>
> Under Mulally, an aerospace engineer and 37-year veteran of Boeing Co.
> before arriving at Ford last fall, key marketing decisions -- such as
> reviving the Taurus model name -- have been pushed by him, a engineer-
> cum-CEO who understands his limitations in the marketing world.
>
> It's hard to overstate the symbolism of Farley's appointment by Ford.
> That a rising Toyota star, the head of Lexus and a founder of its
> Scion youth brand would bolt the Japanese juggernaut for the
> struggling Blue Oval is a testament to Mulally's leadership, the
> strength of Ford's current lineup, the promise of its future products
> and the upside in it all.
>
> And unlike Chrysler LLC, which could use the opaque world of private
> equity to woo Farley's old boss, Jim Press, from Toyota North America
> to Auburn Hills, Ford is doing so in the more transparent world of
> public companies.
>
> These moves are not accidental, but instead telegraph a determination
> to land top talent at Detroit companies that have historically shunned
> outsiders. Not anymore. Both Ford and Chrysler now are headed by
> industry outsiders whose paths to the CEO offices here were paved by
> their success elsewhere and their willingness to look outside their
> new companies for the best marketing talent they can find.
>
> Mulally, for one, has long been an admirer of Toyota. While head of
> Boeing's commercial aviation unit, he studied its production methods
> and adapted them to aircraft assembly. Nor is he shy about conceding
> that the model he envisions for Ford -- "one Ford," built around the
> promise of a solid Blue Oval, not ancillary, money-losing luxury
> brands -- is the Toyota model.
>
> Before heading Lexus, the nation's top-selling luxury brand, Farley
> was group vice president of Toyota Division marketing. He was
> responsible for all Toyota Division market planning, advertising,
> merchandising, sales promotion, incentives and Internet activities. He
> also served as vice president of Scion, Toyota's youth-oriented brand.
>
> Farley, who earned a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University and
> an MBA from UCLA, joined Toyota in 1990 in the strategic-planning
> department.
>
> ---end of article ----
>
> Very interesting. First Chrysler lures Toyota's Jim Press away, and
> now Ford grabs Farley. Either Toyota has an over abundance of talent,
> is cleaning house after a string of recent recalls or maybe after
> climbing the mountain to the #1 spot (it's easier to get there than
> stay there) it's starting to come apart at the seams. We shall see...
>
> Patrick
>

The pickup ads are possibly their one bright spot, IMO. They have Mike
Rowe from the show "Dirty Jobs" as the spokesman and he is fairly
entertaining in them. I see Ford truck commercials quite a bit but I
watch The History Channel, Discovery Channel, Science Channel, HGTV,
Food Network, National Geographic and reruns of CSI 90% of the time. I
think you're not seeing Ford 500 commercials because they are getting
ready to badge it as the new Taurus. I see way to many Mercury
commercials with that chick. I know they are trying to sell them to
women but they need another marketing approach.

Ashton Crusher wrote:
> I sure hope so. I think most of their commercials suck big time. In
> some of them they flash the pictures of the car so fast that you don't
> get a long enough view to even tell what they look like. Maybe it's
> just my choice of TV shows but I never see any ads for the 500 and
> that should be one of their main profit centers. Come to think of it,
> I don't see a whole lot of ads for their pickups either.
>
>
> On Fri, 12 Oct 2007 19:14:02 -0400, Michael Johnson >
> wrote:
>
>> I read this the other day. I wonder if it will make a difference for
>> Ford.
>>
>> wrote:
>>> Ford Motor Co. today said that James D. Farley, group vice president
>>> of Toyota Motor Co.'s Lexus Division, will be Ford's first chief
>>> marketing and communications officer.
>>>
>>> "We are thrilled to welcome one of the most successful and talented
>>> leaders in the industry to the Ford Motor Company team," CEO Alan
>>> Mulally said in a statement, confirming a story first reported in this
>>> column today. "Jim Farley is well known for innovative marketing
>>> strategies that connect great products to today's and tomorrow's
>>> customers. Ford's quality and vehicles are now on par with the best of
>>> the competition. We look forward to Jim's leadership to combine world-
>>> class marketing with our world-class products worldwide."
>>>
>>> The move is a signature appointment by Mulally, who has openly
>>> criticized Ford's marketing efforts and signaled his desire to install
>>> top marketing talent at the Glass House. Farley's arrival also will be
>>> yet another high-profile defection from vaunted Toyota to a Detroit
>>> automaker, suggesting that highly regarded industry pros see
>>> opportunity in their beleaguered rivals.
>>>
>>> "Farley is their superstar," a source familiar with the situation told
>>> me today, adding that Ford has been talking with Farley off and on for
>>> a year. "It's a done deal. This is a good move for us. This is the guy
>>> we wanted. He has an engineering background."
>>>
>>> The appointment of Farley, 45, was approved today by Ford's directors.
>>> As the first head of global marketing and communications for Ford, he
>>> would assume what is arguably the industry's most monumental marketing
>>> challenge. Ford has foundered amid weak campaigns, discarded and then
>>> revived brand names like Taurus, poor product definition and plunging
>>> market share.
>>>
>>> Under Mulally, an aerospace engineer and 37-year veteran of Boeing Co.
>>> before arriving at Ford last fall, key marketing decisions -- such as
>>> reviving the Taurus model name -- have been pushed by him, a engineer-
>>> cum-CEO who understands his limitations in the marketing world.
>>>
>>> It's hard to overstate the symbolism of Farley's appointment by Ford.
>>> That a rising Toyota star, the head of Lexus and a founder of its
>>> Scion youth brand would bolt the Japanese juggernaut for the
>>> struggling Blue Oval is a testament to Mulally's leadership, the
>>> strength of Ford's current lineup, the promise of its future products
>>> and the upside in it all.
>>>
>>> And unlike Chrysler LLC, which could use the opaque world of private
>>> equity to woo Farley's old boss, Jim Press, from Toyota North America
>>> to Auburn Hills, Ford is doing so in the more transparent world of
>>> public companies.
>>>
>>> These moves are not accidental, but instead telegraph a determination
>>> to land top talent at Detroit companies that have historically shunned
>>> outsiders. Not anymore. Both Ford and Chrysler now are headed by
>>> industry outsiders whose paths to the CEO offices here were paved by
>>> their success elsewhere and their willingness to look outside their
>>> new companies for the best marketing talent they can find.
>>>
>>> Mulally, for one, has long been an admirer of Toyota. While head of
>>> Boeing's commercial aviation unit, he studied its production methods
>>> and adapted them to aircraft assembly. Nor is he shy about conceding
>>> that the model he envisions for Ford -- "one Ford," built around the
>>> promise of a solid Blue Oval, not ancillary, money-losing luxury
>>> brands -- is the Toyota model.
>>>
>>> Before heading Lexus, the nation's top-selling luxury brand, Farley
>>> was group vice president of Toyota Division marketing. He was
>>> responsible for all Toyota Division market planning, advertising,
>>> merchandising, sales promotion, incentives and Internet activities. He
>>> also served as vice president of Scion, Toyota's youth-oriented brand.
>>>
>>> Farley, who earned a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University and
>>> an MBA from UCLA, joined Toyota in 1990 in the strategic-planning
>>> department.
>>>
>>> ---end of article ----
>>>
>>> Very interesting. First Chrysler lures Toyota's Jim Press away, and
>>> now Ford grabs Farley. Either Toyota has an over abundance of talent,
>>> is cleaning house after a string of recent recalls or maybe after
>>> climbing the mountain to the #1 spot (it's easier to get there than
>>> stay there) it's starting to come apart at the seams. We shall see...
>>>
>>> Patrick
>>>

Michael Johnson wrote:
> The pickup ads are possibly their one bright spot, IMO. They have Mike
> Rowe from the show "Dirty Jobs" as the spokesman and he is fairly
> entertaining in them. I see Ford truck commercials quite a bit but I
> watch The History Channel, Discovery Channel, Science Channel, HGTV,
> Food Network, National Geographic and reruns of CSI 90% of the time. I
> think you're not seeing Ford 500 commercials because they are getting
> ready to badge it as the new Taurus. I see way to many Mercury
> commercials with that chick. I know they are trying to sell them to
> women but they need another marketing approach.
>

Heh as that very Milan ad goes off on the H channel. I have those
same TV habits. I always hated the Chevy truck ads where they always
compare themselves to Ford by name. IMO that's a sign of someone who
knows they are behind and disparate to catch up, knowing their product
is inferior. Toyota is even worse making absolute false claims in their
ads at times, I called a sales goob at a Toyota lot on it once.

--
"Are you da poe-lice?" "No ma'am, we're musicians."

"So round, so firm, so fully packed, so easy on the draw" - Daffy Duck

Ahem. You're talking to someone who thinks that
popping a sail atop a 3,000 pound motor vehicle
is a viable alternative. - dwight

On Oct 11, 6:41 pm, wrote:
> Ford Motor Co. today said that James D. Farley, group vice president
> of Toyota Motor Co.'s Lexus Division, will be Ford's first chief
> marketing and communications officer.
>
> "We are thrilled to welcome one of the most successful and talented
> leaders in the industry to the Ford Motor Company team," CEO Alan
> Mulally said in a statement, confirming a story first reported in this
> column today. "Jim Farley is well known for innovative marketing
> strategies that connect great products to today's and tomorrow's
> customers. Ford's quality and vehicles are now on par with the best of
> the competition. We look forward to Jim's leadership to combine world-
> class marketing with our world-class products worldwide."
>
> The move is a signature appointment by Mulally, who has openly
> criticized Ford's marketing efforts and signaled his desire to install
> top marketing talent at the Glass House. Farley's arrival also will be
> yet another high-profile defection from vaunted Toyota to a Detroit
> automaker, suggesting that highly regarded industry pros see
> opportunity in their beleaguered rivals.
>
> "Farley is their superstar," a source familiar with the situation told
> me today, adding that Ford has been talking with Farley off and on for
> a year. "It's a done deal. This is a good move for us. This is the guy
> we wanted. He has an engineering background."
>
> The appointment of Farley, 45, was approved today by Ford's directors.
> As the first head of global marketing and communications for Ford, he
> would assume what is arguably the industry's most monumental marketing
> challenge. Ford has foundered amid weak campaigns, discarded and then
> revived brand names like Taurus, poor product definition and plunging
> market share.
>
> Under Mulally, an aerospace engineer and 37-year veteran of Boeing Co.
> before arriving at Ford last fall, key marketing decisions -- such as
> reviving the Taurus model name -- have been pushed by him, a engineer-
> cum-CEO who understands his limitations in the marketing world.
>
> It's hard to overstate the symbolism of Farley's appointment by Ford.
> That a rising Toyota star, the head of Lexus and a founder of its
> Scion youth brand would bolt the Japanese juggernaut for the
> struggling Blue Oval is a testament to Mulally's leadership, the
> strength of Ford's current lineup, the promise of its future products
> and the upside in it all.
>
> And unlike Chrysler LLC, which could use the opaque world of private
> equity to woo Farley's old boss, Jim Press, from Toyota North America
> to Auburn Hills, Ford is doing so in the more transparent world of
> public companies.
>
> These moves are not accidental, but instead telegraph a determination
> to land top talent at Detroit companies that have historically shunned
> outsiders. Not anymore. Both Ford and Chrysler now are headed by
> industry outsiders whose paths to the CEO offices here were paved by
> their success elsewhere and their willingness to look outside their
> new companies for the best marketing talent they can find.
>
> Mulally, for one, has long been an admirer of Toyota. While head of
> Boeing's commercial aviation unit, he studied its production methods
> and adapted them to aircraft assembly. Nor is he shy about conceding
> that the model he envisions for Ford -- "one Ford," built around the
> promise of a solid Blue Oval, not ancillary, money-losing luxury
> brands -- is the Toyota model.
>
> Before heading Lexus, the nation's top-selling luxury brand, Farley
> was group vice president of Toyota Division marketing. He was
> responsible for all Toyota Division market planning, advertising,
> merchandising, sales promotion, incentives and Internet activities. He
> also served as vice president of Scion, Toyota's youth-oriented brand.
>
> Farley, who earned a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University and
> an MBA from UCLA, joined Toyota in 1990 in the strategic-planning
> department.
>
> ---end of article ----
>
> Very interesting. First Chrysler lures Toyota's Jim Press away, and
> now Ford grabs Farley. Either Toyota has an over abundance of talent,
> is cleaning house after a string of recent recalls or maybe after
> climbing the mountain to the #1 spot (it's easier to get there than
> stay there) it's starting to come apart at the seams. We shall see...
>
> Patrick


Hey Patrick, I know you suggested long ago how great it would be if
Toyota or Nissan would throw a V8 into a rear drive coupe and enter
the ponycar wars. I think you were posting about this before Chevy
came up with the Camaro concept or Dodge with the Challenger. Well
the latest Road & Track mentions that an Asian automaker is going to
do this for 2009 or 2010, can't remember which. But it's a Korean,
not a Japanese make. The next Hyundai Tiburon will be rear drive and
have an available V8. Being Hyundai, I would expect them to undercut
the Mustang GT by a few thousand, and the Dodge and the Chevy by even
more (since it's unlikely the V8 versions of either of these two will
price out within $5000 of a Mustang).

180 Out

wrote:
> On Oct 11, 6:41 pm, wrote:
>> Ford Motor Co. today said that James D. Farley, group vice president
>> of Toyota Motor Co.'s Lexus Division, will be Ford's first chief
>> marketing and communications officer.
>>
>> "We are thrilled to welcome one of the most successful and talented
>> leaders in the industry to the Ford Motor Company team," CEO Alan
>> Mulally said in a statement, confirming a story first reported in this
>> column today. "Jim Farley is well known for innovative marketing
>> strategies that connect great products to today's and tomorrow's
>> customers. Ford's quality and vehicles are now on par with the best of
>> the competition. We look forward to Jim's leadership to combine world-
>> class marketing with our world-class products worldwide."
>>
>> The move is a signature appointment by Mulally, who has openly
>> criticized Ford's marketing efforts and signaled his desire to install
>> top marketing talent at the Glass House. Farley's arrival also will be
>> yet another high-profile defection from vaunted Toyota to a Detroit
>> automaker, suggesting that highly regarded industry pros see
>> opportunity in their beleaguered rivals.
>>
>> "Farley is their superstar," a source familiar with the situation told
>> me today, adding that Ford has been talking with Farley off and on for
>> a year. "It's a done deal. This is a good move for us. This is the guy
>> we wanted. He has an engineering background."
>>
>> The appointment of Farley, 45, was approved today by Ford's directors.
>> As the first head of global marketing and communications for Ford, he
>> would assume what is arguably the industry's most monumental marketing
>> challenge. Ford has foundered amid weak campaigns, discarded and then
>> revived brand names like Taurus, poor product definition and plunging
>> market share.
>>
>> Under Mulally, an aerospace engineer and 37-year veteran of Boeing Co.
>> before arriving at Ford last fall, key marketing decisions -- such as
>> reviving the Taurus model name -- have been pushed by him, a engineer-
>> cum-CEO who understands his limitations in the marketing world.
>>
>> It's hard to overstate the symbolism of Farley's appointment by Ford.
>> That a rising Toyota star, the head of Lexus and a founder of its
>> Scion youth brand would bolt the Japanese juggernaut for the
>> struggling Blue Oval is a testament to Mulally's leadership, the
>> strength of Ford's current lineup, the promise of its future products
>> and the upside in it all.
>>
>> And unlike Chrysler LLC, which could use the opaque world of private
>> equity to woo Farley's old boss, Jim Press, from Toyota North America
>> to Auburn Hills, Ford is doing so in the more transparent world of
>> public companies.
>>
>> These moves are not accidental, but instead telegraph a determination
>> to land top talent at Detroit companies that have historically shunned
>> outsiders. Not anymore. Both Ford and Chrysler now are headed by
>> industry outsiders whose paths to the CEO offices here were paved by
>> their success elsewhere and their willingness to look outside their
>> new companies for the best marketing talent they can find.
>>
>> Mulally, for one, has long been an admirer of Toyota. While head of
>> Boeing's commercial aviation unit, he studied its production methods
>> and adapted them to aircraft assembly. Nor is he shy about conceding
>> that the model he envisions for Ford -- "one Ford," built around the
>> promise of a solid Blue Oval, not ancillary, money-losing luxury
>> brands -- is the Toyota model.
>>
>> Before heading Lexus, the nation's top-selling luxury brand, Farley
>> was group vice president of Toyota Division marketing. He was
>> responsible for all Toyota Division market planning, advertising,
>> merchandising, sales promotion, incentives and Internet activities. He
>> also served as vice president of Scion, Toyota's youth-oriented brand.
>>
>> Farley, who earned a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University and
>> an MBA from UCLA, joined Toyota in 1990 in the strategic-planning
>> department.
>>
>> ---end of article ----
>>
>> Very interesting. First Chrysler lures Toyota's Jim Press away, and
>> now Ford grabs Farley. Either Toyota has an over abundance of talent,
>> is cleaning house after a string of recent recalls or maybe after
>> climbing the mountain to the #1 spot (it's easier to get there than
>> stay there) it's starting to come apart at the seams. We shall see...
>>
>> Patrick
>
>
> Hey Patrick, I know you suggested long ago how great it would be if
> Toyota or Nissan would throw a V8 into a rear drive coupe and enter
> the ponycar wars. I think you were posting about this before Chevy
> came up with the Camaro concept or Dodge with the Challenger. Well
> the latest Road & Track mentions that an Asian automaker is going to
> do this for 2009 or 2010, can't remember which. But it's a Korean,
> not a Japanese make. The next Hyundai Tiburon will be rear drive and
> have an available V8. Being Hyundai, I would expect them to undercut
> the Mustang GT by a few thousand, and the Dodge and the Chevy by even
> more (since it's unlikely the V8 versions of either of these two will
> price out within $5000 of a Mustang).
>
> 180 Out
>

I read some talk about that not long ago, it may have been here. I
wouldn't mind seeing a stretched out 350Z/G35 with the 5.6 or the 4.5 V8
from Nissan. One thing is sure, it would eat up any Hemi in the 1/4 mile
in both speed and fuel consumption P

--
"Are you da poe-lice?" "No ma'am, we're musicians."

"So round, so firm, so fully packed, so easy on the draw" - Daffy Duck

Ahem. You're talking to someone who thinks that
popping a sail atop a 3,000 pound motor vehicle
is a viable alternative. - dwight

The Taurus is already on sale, and there have already been commercials
that advertise it as one of the safest fullsize cars -
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/15/f...et-to-go-live/

However, there is still "fixing" to do because even with the name
change, the sales are not where they were hoped to be -
http://www.autoobserver.com/2007/10/...aurus-wha.html

Michael Johnson wrote:

> The pickup ads are possibly their one bright spot, IMO. They have
> Mike Rowe from the show "Dirty Jobs" as the spokesman and he is fairly
> entertaining in them. I see Ford truck commercials quite a bit but I
> watch The History Channel, Discovery Channel, Science Channel, HGTV,
> Food Network, National Geographic and reruns of CSI 90% of the time.
> I think you're not seeing Ford 500 commercials because they are
> getting ready to badge it as the new Taurus. I see way to many
> Mercury commercials with that chick. I know they are trying to sell
> them to women but they need another marketing approach.
>
> Ashton Crusher wrote:
>
>> I sure hope so. I think most of their commercials suck big time. In
>> some of them they flash the pictures of the car so fast that you don't
>> get a long enough view to even tell what they look like. Maybe it's
>> just my choice of TV shows but I never see any ads for the 500 and
>> that should be one of their main profit centers. Come to think of it,
>> I don't see a whole lot of ads for their pickups either.
>>
>>
>> On Fri, 12 Oct 2007 19:14:02 -0400, Michael Johnson >
>> wrote:
>>
>>> I read this the other day. I wonder if it will make a difference
>>> for Ford.
>>>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Ford Motor Co. today said that James D. Farley, group vice president
>>>> of Toyota Motor Co.'s Lexus Division, will be Ford's first chief
>>>> marketing and communications officer.
>>>>
>>>> "We are thrilled to welcome one of the most successful and talented
>>>> leaders in the industry to the Ford Motor Company team," CEO Alan
>>>> Mulally said in a statement, confirming a story first reported in this
>>>> column today. "Jim Farley is well known for innovative marketing
>>>> strategies that connect great products to today's and tomorrow's
>>>> customers. Ford's quality and vehicles are now on par with the best of
>>>> the competition. We look forward to Jim's leadership to combine world-
>>>> class marketing with our world-class products worldwide."
>>>>
>>>> The move is a signature appointment by Mulally, who has openly
>>>> criticized Ford's marketing efforts and signaled his desire to install
>>>> top marketing talent at the Glass House. Farley's arrival also will be
>>>> yet another high-profile defection from vaunted Toyota to a Detroit
>>>> automaker, suggesting that highly regarded industry pros see
>>>> opportunity in their beleaguered rivals.
>>>>
>>>> "Farley is their superstar," a source familiar with the situation told
>>>> me today, adding that Ford has been talking with Farley off and on for
>>>> a year. "It's a done deal. This is a good move for us. This is the guy
>>>> we wanted. He has an engineering background."
>>>>
>>>> The appointment of Farley, 45, was approved today by Ford's directors.
>>>> As the first head of global marketing and communications for Ford, he
>>>> would assume what is arguably the industry's most monumental marketing
>>>> challenge. Ford has foundered amid weak campaigns, discarded and then
>>>> revived brand names like Taurus, poor product definition and plunging
>>>> market share.
>>>>
>>>> Under Mulally, an aerospace engineer and 37-year veteran of Boeing Co.
>>>> before arriving at Ford last fall, key marketing decisions -- such as
>>>> reviving the Taurus model name -- have been pushed by him, a engineer-
>>>> cum-CEO who understands his limitations in the marketing world.
>>>>
>>>> It's hard to overstate the symbolism of Farley's appointment by Ford.
>>>> That a rising Toyota star, the head of Lexus and a founder of its
>>>> Scion youth brand would bolt the Japanese juggernaut for the
>>>> struggling Blue Oval is a testament to Mulally's leadership, the
>>>> strength of Ford's current lineup, the promise of its future products
>>>> and the upside in it all.
>>>>
>>>> And unlike Chrysler LLC, which could use the opaque world of private
>>>> equity to woo Farley's old boss, Jim Press, from Toyota North America
>>>> to Auburn Hills, Ford is doing so in the more transparent world of
>>>> public companies.
>>>>
>>>> These moves are not accidental, but instead telegraph a determination
>>>> to land top talent at Detroit companies that have historically shunned
>>>> outsiders. Not anymore. Both Ford and Chrysler now are headed by
>>>> industry outsiders whose paths to the CEO offices here were paved by
>>>> their success elsewhere and their willingness to look outside their
>>>> new companies for the best marketing talent they can find.
>>>>
>>>> Mulally, for one, has long been an admirer of Toyota. While head of
>>>> Boeing's commercial aviation unit, he studied its production methods
>>>> and adapted them to aircraft assembly. Nor is he shy about conceding
>>>> that the model he envisions for Ford -- "one Ford," built around the
>>>> promise of a solid Blue Oval, not ancillary, money-losing luxury
>>>> brands -- is the Toyota model.
>>>>
>>>> Before heading Lexus, the nation's top-selling luxury brand, Farley
>>>> was group vice president of Toyota Division marketing. He was
>>>> responsible for all Toyota Division market planning, advertising,
>>>> merchandising, sales promotion, incentives and Internet activities. He
>>>> also served as vice president of Scion, Toyota's youth-oriented brand.
>>>>
>>>> Farley, who earned a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University and
>>>> an MBA from UCLA, joined Toyota in 1990 in the strategic-planning
>>>> department.
>>>>
>>>> ---end of article ----
>>>>
>>>> Very interesting. First Chrysler lures Toyota's Jim Press away, and
>>>> now Ford grabs Farley. Either Toyota has an over abundance of talent,
>>>> is cleaning house after a string of recent recalls or maybe after
>>>> climbing the mountain to the #1 spot (it's easier to get there than
>>>> stay there) it's starting to come apart at the seams. We shall see...
>>>>
>>>> Patrick
>>>>

I have yet to see one Taurus commercial. They need a full on ad bliz
for it, IMO.

Tony Alonso wrote:
> The Taurus is already on sale, and there have already been commercials
> that advertise it as one of the safest fullsize cars -
> http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/15/f...et-to-go-live/
>
> However, there is still "fixing" to do because even with the name
> change, the sales are not where they were hoped to be -
> http://www.autoobserver.com/2007/10/...aurus-wha.html
>
> Michael Johnson wrote:
>
>> The pickup ads are possibly their one bright spot, IMO. They have
>> Mike Rowe from the show "Dirty Jobs" as the spokesman and he is fairly
>> entertaining in them. I see Ford truck commercials quite a bit but I
>> watch The History Channel, Discovery Channel, Science Channel, HGTV,
>> Food Network, National Geographic and reruns of CSI 90% of the time.
>> I think you're not seeing Ford 500 commercials because they are
>> getting ready to badge it as the new Taurus. I see way to many
>> Mercury commercials with that chick. I know they are trying to sell
>> them to women but they need another marketing approach.
>>
>> Ashton Crusher wrote:
>>
>>> I sure hope so. I think most of their commercials suck big time. In
>>> some of them they flash the pictures of the car so fast that you don't
>>> get a long enough view to even tell what they look like. Maybe it's
>>> just my choice of TV shows but I never see any ads for the 500 and
>>> that should be one of their main profit centers. Come to think of it,
>>> I don't see a whole lot of ads for their pickups either.
>>>
>>>
>>> On Fri, 12 Oct 2007 19:14:02 -0400, Michael Johnson >
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I read this the other day. I wonder if it will make a difference
>>>> for Ford.
>>>>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Ford Motor Co. today said that James D. Farley, group vice president
>>>>> of Toyota Motor Co.'s Lexus Division, will be Ford's first chief
>>>>> marketing and communications officer.
>>>>>
>>>>> "We are thrilled to welcome one of the most successful and talented
>>>>> leaders in the industry to the Ford Motor Company team," CEO Alan
>>>>> Mulally said in a statement, confirming a story first reported in this
>>>>> column today. "Jim Farley is well known for innovative marketing
>>>>> strategies that connect great products to today's and tomorrow's
>>>>> customers. Ford's quality and vehicles are now on par with the best of
>>>>> the competition. We look forward to Jim's leadership to combine world-
>>>>> class marketing with our world-class products worldwide."
>>>>>
>>>>> The move is a signature appointment by Mulally, who has openly
>>>>> criticized Ford's marketing efforts and signaled his desire to install
>>>>> top marketing talent at the Glass House. Farley's arrival also will be
>>>>> yet another high-profile defection from vaunted Toyota to a Detroit
>>>>> automaker, suggesting that highly regarded industry pros see
>>>>> opportunity in their beleaguered rivals.
>>>>>
>>>>> "Farley is their superstar," a source familiar with the situation told
>>>>> me today, adding that Ford has been talking with Farley off and on for
>>>>> a year. "It's a done deal. This is a good move for us. This is the guy
>>>>> we wanted. He has an engineering background."
>>>>>
>>>>> The appointment of Farley, 45, was approved today by Ford's directors.
>>>>> As the first head of global marketing and communications for Ford, he
>>>>> would assume what is arguably the industry's most monumental marketing
>>>>> challenge. Ford has foundered amid weak campaigns, discarded and then
>>>>> revived brand names like Taurus, poor product definition and plunging
>>>>> market share.
>>>>>
>>>>> Under Mulally, an aerospace engineer and 37-year veteran of Boeing Co.
>>>>> before arriving at Ford last fall, key marketing decisions -- such as
>>>>> reviving the Taurus model name -- have been pushed by him, a engineer-
>>>>> cum-CEO who understands his limitations in the marketing world.
>>>>>
>>>>> It's hard to overstate the symbolism of Farley's appointment by Ford.
>>>>> That a rising Toyota star, the head of Lexus and a founder of its
>>>>> Scion youth brand would bolt the Japanese juggernaut for the
>>>>> struggling Blue Oval is a testament to Mulally's leadership, the
>>>>> strength of Ford's current lineup, the promise of its future products
>>>>> and the upside in it all.
>>>>>
>>>>> And unlike Chrysler LLC, which could use the opaque world of private
>>>>> equity to woo Farley's old boss, Jim Press, from Toyota North America
>>>>> to Auburn Hills, Ford is doing so in the more transparent world of
>>>>> public companies.
>>>>>
>>>>> These moves are not accidental, but instead telegraph a determination
>>>>> to land top talent at Detroit companies that have historically shunned
>>>>> outsiders. Not anymore. Both Ford and Chrysler now are headed by
>>>>> industry outsiders whose paths to the CEO offices here were paved by
>>>>> their success elsewhere and their willingness to look outside their
>>>>> new companies for the best marketing talent they can find.
>>>>>
>>>>> Mulally, for one, has long been an admirer of Toyota. While head of
>>>>> Boeing's commercial aviation unit, he studied its production methods
>>>>> and adapted them to aircraft assembly. Nor is he shy about conceding
>>>>> that the model he envisions for Ford -- "one Ford," built around the
>>>>> promise of a solid Blue Oval, not ancillary, money-losing luxury
>>>>> brands -- is the Toyota model.
>>>>>
>>>>> Before heading Lexus, the nation's top-selling luxury brand, Farley
>>>>> was group vice president of Toyota Division marketing. He was
>>>>> responsible for all Toyota Division market planning, advertising,
>>>>> merchandising, sales promotion, incentives and Internet activities. He
>>>>> also served as vice president of Scion, Toyota's youth-oriented brand.
>>>>>
>>>>> Farley, who earned a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University and
>>>>> an MBA from UCLA, joined Toyota in 1990 in the strategic-planning
>>>>> department.
>>>>>
>>>>> ---end of article ----
>>>>>
>>>>> Very interesting. First Chrysler lures Toyota's Jim Press away, and
>>>>> now Ford grabs Farley. Either Toyota has an over abundance of talent,
>>>>> is cleaning house after a string of recent recalls or maybe after
>>>>> climbing the mountain to the #1 spot (it's easier to get there than
>>>>> stay there) it's starting to come apart at the seams. We shall see...
>>>>>
>>>>> Patrick
>>>>>

"Michael Johnson" > wrote in message
...
>I have yet to see one Taurus commercial. They need a full on ad bliz for
>it, IMO.

You never saw a commercial for it when it was the Ford 500 either... Ford
needs to pull their head out of their ass...

>
> Tony Alonso wrote:
>> The Taurus is already on sale, and there have already been commercials
>> that advertise it as one of the safest fullsize cars -
>> http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/15/f...et-to-go-live/
>>
>> However, there is still "fixing" to do because even with the name change,
>> the sales are not where they were hoped to be -
>> http://www.autoobserver.com/2007/10/...aurus-wha.html
>>
>> Michael Johnson wrote:
>>
>>> The pickup ads are possibly their one bright spot, IMO. They have Mike
>>> Rowe from the show "Dirty Jobs" as the spokesman and he is fairly
>>> entertaining in them. I see Ford truck commercials quite a bit but I
>>> watch The History Channel, Discovery Channel, Science Channel, HGTV,
>>> Food Network, National Geographic and reruns of CSI 90% of the time. I
>>> think you're not seeing Ford 500 commercials because they are getting
>>> ready to badge it as the new Taurus. I see way to many Mercury
>>> commercials with that chick. I know they are trying to sell them to
>>> women but they need another marketing approach.
>>>
>>> Ashton Crusher wrote:
>>>
>>>> I sure hope so. I think most of their commercials suck big time. In
>>>> some of them they flash the pictures of the car so fast that you don't
>>>> get a long enough view to even tell what they look like. Maybe it's
>>>> just my choice of TV shows but I never see any ads for the 500 and
>>>> that should be one of their main profit centers. Come to think of it,
>>>> I don't see a whole lot of ads for their pickups either.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Fri, 12 Oct 2007 19:14:02 -0400, Michael Johnson >
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> I read this the other day. I wonder if it will make a difference for
>>>>> Ford.
>>>>>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Ford Motor Co. today said that James D. Farley, group vice president
>>>>>> of Toyota Motor Co.'s Lexus Division, will be Ford's first chief
>>>>>> marketing and communications officer.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "We are thrilled to welcome one of the most successful and talented
>>>>>> leaders in the industry to the Ford Motor Company team," CEO Alan
>>>>>> Mulally said in a statement, confirming a story first reported in
>>>>>> this
>>>>>> column today. "Jim Farley is well known for innovative marketing
>>>>>> strategies that connect great products to today's and tomorrow's
>>>>>> customers. Ford's quality and vehicles are now on par with the best
>>>>>> of
>>>>>> the competition. We look forward to Jim's leadership to combine
>>>>>> world-
>>>>>> class marketing with our world-class products worldwide."
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The move is a signature appointment by Mulally, who has openly
>>>>>> criticized Ford's marketing efforts and signaled his desire to
>>>>>> install
>>>>>> top marketing talent at the Glass House. Farley's arrival also will
>>>>>> be
>>>>>> yet another high-profile defection from vaunted Toyota to a Detroit
>>>>>> automaker, suggesting that highly regarded industry pros see
>>>>>> opportunity in their beleaguered rivals.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "Farley is their superstar," a source familiar with the situation
>>>>>> told
>>>>>> me today, adding that Ford has been talking with Farley off and on
>>>>>> for
>>>>>> a year. "It's a done deal. This is a good move for us. This is the
>>>>>> guy
>>>>>> we wanted. He has an engineering background."
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The appointment of Farley, 45, was approved today by Ford's
>>>>>> directors.
>>>>>> As the first head of global marketing and communications for Ford, he
>>>>>> would assume what is arguably the industry's most monumental
>>>>>> marketing
>>>>>> challenge. Ford has foundered amid weak campaigns, discarded and then
>>>>>> revived brand names like Taurus, poor product definition and plunging
>>>>>> market share.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Under Mulally, an aerospace engineer and 37-year veteran of Boeing
>>>>>> Co.
>>>>>> before arriving at Ford last fall, key marketing decisions -- such as
>>>>>> reviving the Taurus model name -- have been pushed by him, a
>>>>>> engineer-
>>>>>> cum-CEO who understands his limitations in the marketing world.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> It's hard to overstate the symbolism of Farley's appointment by Ford.
>>>>>> That a rising Toyota star, the head of Lexus and a founder of its
>>>>>> Scion youth brand would bolt the Japanese juggernaut for the
>>>>>> struggling Blue Oval is a testament to Mulally's leadership, the
>>>>>> strength of Ford's current lineup, the promise of its future products
>>>>>> and the upside in it all.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> And unlike Chrysler LLC, which could use the opaque world of private
>>>>>> equity to woo Farley's old boss, Jim Press, from Toyota North America
>>>>>> to Auburn Hills, Ford is doing so in the more transparent world of
>>>>>> public companies.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> These moves are not accidental, but instead telegraph a determination
>>>>>> to land top talent at Detroit companies that have historically
>>>>>> shunned
>>>>>> outsiders. Not anymore. Both Ford and Chrysler now are headed by
>>>>>> industry outsiders whose paths to the CEO offices here were paved by
>>>>>> their success elsewhere and their willingness to look outside their
>>>>>> new companies for the best marketing talent they can find.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Mulally, for one, has long been an admirer of Toyota. While head of
>>>>>> Boeing's commercial aviation unit, he studied its production methods
>>>>>> and adapted them to aircraft assembly. Nor is he shy about conceding
>>>>>> that the model he envisions for Ford -- "one Ford," built around the
>>>>>> promise of a solid Blue Oval, not ancillary, money-losing luxury
>>>>>> brands -- is the Toyota model.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Before heading Lexus, the nation's top-selling luxury brand, Farley
>>>>>> was group vice president of Toyota Division marketing. He was
>>>>>> responsible for all Toyota Division market planning, advertising,
>>>>>> merchandising, sales promotion, incentives and Internet activities.
>>>>>> He
>>>>>> also served as vice president of Scion, Toyota's youth-oriented
>>>>>> brand.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Farley, who earned a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University and
>>>>>> an MBA from UCLA, joined Toyota in 1990 in the strategic-planning
>>>>>> department.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> ---end of article ----
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Very interesting. First Chrysler lures Toyota's Jim Press away, and
>>>>>> now Ford grabs Farley. Either Toyota has an over abundance of
>>>>>> talent,
>>>>>> is cleaning house after a string of recent recalls or maybe after
>>>>>> climbing the mountain to the #1 spot (it's easier to get there than
>>>>>> stay there) it's starting to come apart at the seams. We shall
>>>>>> see...
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Patrick
>>>>>>

My Name Is Nobody wrote:
> "Michael Johnson" > wrote in message
> ...
>> I have yet to see one Taurus commercial. They need a full on ad bliz for
>> it, IMO.
>
> You never saw a commercial for it when it was the Ford 500 either... Ford
> needs to pull their head out of their ass...

Hopefully they will let this guy from Toyota do that for them. If they
don't then their future looks very bleak.

>> Tony Alonso wrote:
>>> The Taurus is already on sale, and there have already been commercials
>>> that advertise it as one of the safest fullsize cars -
>>> http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/15/f...et-to-go-live/
>>>
>>> However, there is still "fixing" to do because even with the name change,
>>> the sales are not where they were hoped to be -
>>> http://www.autoobserver.com/2007/10/...aurus-wha.html
>>>
>>> Michael Johnson wrote:
>>>
>>>> The pickup ads are possibly their one bright spot, IMO. They have Mike
>>>> Rowe from the show "Dirty Jobs" as the spokesman and he is fairly
>>>> entertaining in them. I see Ford truck commercials quite a bit but I
>>>> watch The History Channel, Discovery Channel, Science Channel, HGTV,
>>>> Food Network, National Geographic and reruns of CSI 90% of the time. I
>>>> think you're not seeing Ford 500 commercials because they are getting
>>>> ready to badge it as the new Taurus. I see way to many Mercury
>>>> commercials with that chick. I know they are trying to sell them to
>>>> women but they need another marketing approach.
>>>>
>>>> Ashton Crusher wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> I sure hope so. I think most of their commercials suck big time. In
>>>>> some of them they flash the pictures of the car so fast that you don't
>>>>> get a long enough view to even tell what they look like. Maybe it's
>>>>> just my choice of TV shows but I never see any ads for the 500 and
>>>>> that should be one of their main profit centers. Come to think of it,
>>>>> I don't see a whole lot of ads for their pickups either.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Fri, 12 Oct 2007 19:14:02 -0400, Michael Johnson >
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> I read this the other day. I wonder if it will make a difference for
>>>>>> Ford.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Ford Motor Co. today said that James D. Farley, group vice president
>>>>>>> of Toyota Motor Co.'s Lexus Division, will be Ford's first chief
>>>>>>> marketing and communications officer.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> "We are thrilled to welcome one of the most successful and talented
>>>>>>> leaders in the industry to the Ford Motor Company team," CEO Alan
>>>>>>> Mulally said in a statement, confirming a story first reported in
>>>>>>> this
>>>>>>> column today. "Jim Farley is well known for innovative marketing
>>>>>>> strategies that connect great products to today's and tomorrow's
>>>>>>> customers. Ford's quality and vehicles are now on par with the best
>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>> the competition. We look forward to Jim's leadership to combine
>>>>>>> world-
>>>>>>> class marketing with our world-class products worldwide."
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> The move is a signature appointment by Mulally, who has openly
>>>>>>> criticized Ford's marketing efforts and signaled his desire to
>>>>>>> install
>>>>>>> top marketing talent at the Glass House. Farley's arrival also will
>>>>>>> be
>>>>>>> yet another high-profile defection from vaunted Toyota to a Detroit
>>>>>>> automaker, suggesting that highly regarded industry pros see
>>>>>>> opportunity in their beleaguered rivals.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> "Farley is their superstar," a source familiar with the situation
>>>>>>> told
>>>>>>> me today, adding that Ford has been talking with Farley off and on
>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>> a year. "It's a done deal. This is a good move for us. This is the
>>>>>>> guy
>>>>>>> we wanted. He has an engineering background."
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> The appointment of Farley, 45, was approved today by Ford's
>>>>>>> directors.
>>>>>>> As the first head of global marketing and communications for Ford, he
>>>>>>> would assume what is arguably the industry's most monumental
>>>>>>> marketing
>>>>>>> challenge. Ford has foundered amid weak campaigns, discarded and then
>>>>>>> revived brand names like Taurus, poor product definition and plunging
>>>>>>> market share.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Under Mulally, an aerospace engineer and 37-year veteran of Boeing
>>>>>>> Co.
>>>>>>> before arriving at Ford last fall, key marketing decisions -- such as
>>>>>>> reviving the Taurus model name -- have been pushed by him, a
>>>>>>> engineer-
>>>>>>> cum-CEO who understands his limitations in the marketing world.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> It's hard to overstate the symbolism of Farley's appointment by Ford.
>>>>>>> That a rising Toyota star, the head of Lexus and a founder of its
>>>>>>> Scion youth brand would bolt the Japanese juggernaut for the
>>>>>>> struggling Blue Oval is a testament to Mulally's leadership, the
>>>>>>> strength of Ford's current lineup, the promise of its future products
>>>>>>> and the upside in it all.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> And unlike Chrysler LLC, which could use the opaque world of private
>>>>>>> equity to woo Farley's old boss, Jim Press, from Toyota North America
>>>>>>> to Auburn Hills, Ford is doing so in the more transparent world of
>>>>>>> public companies.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> These moves are not accidental, but instead telegraph a determination
>>>>>>> to land top talent at Detroit companies that have historically
>>>>>>> shunned
>>>>>>> outsiders. Not anymore. Both Ford and Chrysler now are headed by
>>>>>>> industry outsiders whose paths to the CEO offices here were paved by
>>>>>>> their success elsewhere and their willingness to look outside their
>>>>>>> new companies for the best marketing talent they can find.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Mulally, for one, has long been an admirer of Toyota. While head of
>>>>>>> Boeing's commercial aviation unit, he studied its production methods
>>>>>>> and adapted them to aircraft assembly. Nor is he shy about conceding
>>>>>>> that the model he envisions for Ford -- "one Ford," built around the
>>>>>>> promise of a solid Blue Oval, not ancillary, money-losing luxury
>>>>>>> brands -- is the Toyota model.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Before heading Lexus, the nation's top-selling luxury brand, Farley
>>>>>>> was group vice president of Toyota Division marketing. He was
>>>>>>> responsible for all Toyota Division market planning, advertising,
>>>>>>> merchandising, sales promotion, incentives and Internet activities.
>>>>>>> He
>>>>>>> also served as vice president of Scion, Toyota's youth-oriented
>>>>>>> brand.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Farley, who earned a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University and
>>>>>>> an MBA from UCLA, joined Toyota in 1990 in the strategic-planning
>>>>>>> department.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ---end of article ----
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Very interesting. First Chrysler lures Toyota's Jim Press away, and
>>>>>>> now Ford grabs Farley. Either Toyota has an over abundance of
>>>>>>> talent,
>>>>>>> is cleaning house after a string of recent recalls or maybe after
>>>>>>> climbing the mountain to the #1 spot (it's easier to get there than
>>>>>>> stay there) it's starting to come apart at the seams. We shall
>>>>>>> see...
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Patrick
>>>>>>>
>
>