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Ford has made headlines this week with a major shakeup at the top, according to Performance Racing Industry and Ford’s own official press room. Jim Baumbick, who has long been pivotal in product development, will become president of Ford Europe starting November 1, tasked with boosting Ford’s fortunes across the continent and aligning products for demanding European customers. Sam Basile, a seasoned exec arriving from General Motors, will step into Baumbick’s old role overseeing advanced product development and cycle planning, marking a notable talent acquisition for Ford. Bryce Currie, previously in charge of manufacturing across the Americas, now takes on the expanded global title of Chief Manufacturing Officer, covering worldwide manufacturing and safety. Andrew Frick, already steering Ford Blue and Model e, is assuming leadership of the Lincoln Motor Company, effectively uniting all retail business interests—gas, hybrid, electric, and luxury—under one leader. These moves coincide with the high-profile retirements of Chuck Gray, a legend in vehicle hardware engineering, and Darren Palmer, a key figure behind Ford’s electrification strategy and Team Edison. Both are widely credited with shaping Ford’s engineering culture and the rapid rollout of EV icons like the Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning.
On the business side, Ford faces an immediate challenge: production of its best-seller, the F-150, has been significantly disrupted by a fire at the Novelis aluminum plant in Oswego, New York. This facility supplies nearly half of the U.S. auto industry’s aluminum sheet, and Ford’s Dearborn plant where F-150s are made is feeling the pinch. Simply Wall St explains that production could be impacted into early 2026. Analysts warn this supply chain crisis underscores how vulnerable Ford is to shocks in critical raw materials and raises questions about its resilience and ability to hit near-term profit targets. The leadership changes are being interpreted as a signal that Ford is determined to boost operational flexibility and manufacturing discipline in the face of such volatility.
Inside the company, employee relations are tense as the push for stricter return-to-office policies gathers steam. As reported by Business Insider via Fortune, Ford has escalated its remote work crackdown, requiring most salaried staff to return to the office four days a week. Automated badge-swipe checks have led to warnings and even threats of termination for those not complying—sometimes in error—reflecting a hard stance as CEO Jim Farley demands a leaner and faster decision-making culture.
In lighter news, Ford is aiming to stay culturally relevant with the new limited-edition Ford Truckle, which debuted October 10 as a western-style accessory that literally unlocks your pickup and your inner cowboy, generating modest buzz on enthusiast forums and social platforms but eclipsed by weightier business developments.
No major public appearances by CEO Jim Farley or Ford board members have been reported yet this week, but expectations are high with the Fortune Global Forum in Riyadh later this month, where Farley is rumored to address AI and its role in blue-collar tech transitions. For now, the narrative is clear: Ford’s management is changing gears, its bedrock truck business faces daunting challenges, and employees are feeling the whip as the company tries to steer through volatile times.
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