New Ford Australia boss arrives

If the pace of the past week is a guide, the new boss of Ford Australia, Robert Graziano, is a man on a mission.

Fresh from a whirlwind trip between Melbourne, China and Detroit to finalise his relocation, Graziano flew to Adelaide to meet with local press at the launch of the updated Fiesta small car last night – within his first 48 hours in the top job. Another indication he intends to hit the ground running, the new president and CEO of Ford Australia was due to return to Melbourne this morning to meet with the Ford dealer council.

"There's not much I can tell you at this stage as I've only just had my feet under the desk for 48 hours," Graziano said during a brief and informal welcoming address over dinner.

"But, as you can imagine, I'm very happy to be here and I'm keen to get across the local industry as quickly as possible."

Graziano said he was aware that Australia was one of the most competitive new-car markets in the world.

"I'm well aware of what some of our challenges and opportunities are. We have a big year ahead with a lot of new model activity."

Ford's market share slipped to 9 per cent in November, but this was largely due to delayed shipments of the Fiesta and Focus small cars, the company said.

Ford is expected to launch at least six significant new models over the next 12 months, including a facelifted Territory (which will also be available with a much anticipated diesel engine), the all-new Ranger ute, four-cylinder and new LPG versions of the Falcon sedan, and the third-generation Focus small car late in the year.

Graziano comes to Australia after three years as the head of Ford's three joint venture operations in China. Before that he was exposed to the Australian market via his role as a senior executive at Mazda.

After being driven by a chauffeur (there are restrictions on foreigners driving in China) for the last three years, Graziano said he was glad to be behind the wheel again. His company car is Ford's top-of-the-line G6E Turbo.

"It's great to be driving again. I've been getting up early just to drive the car."

After studying at Iowa University, the former Detroiter has clocked up 28 years with the Ford Motor Company and is the son of a 34-year Ford veteran.

"He left when I started, I'm not sure what to interpret from that," he said candidly.

Graziano is the second-youngest of seven children and he and his wife have five children.

He describes himself as a fan of motorsport and an avid follower of NASCAR, and expressed disappointment that the Ford-driving V8 Supercar champion for 2010, James Courtney, was defecting to Holden next year.

The self-confessed revhead learned to drive in a 1976 Mustang and, perhaps a sign of things to come, his first car was a Ford Futura. Unlike later versions of the local Falcon Futura, his 1980s North American Futura was powered by a 302 V8.

Graziano says he will spend the Christmas/New Year break getting relocated, ready to return to the office before Ford's Broadmeadows and Geelong production lines start up again on January 17 (the same factory start-up date as Holden).

Graziano is the fourth boss of Ford Australia in three years. His predecessor, Geelong-born Marin Burela, who led Ford Australia for two years, was transferred to a senior role at the Ford-Mazda joint venture in China in November.

Graziano's counterpart at Holden, fellow Detroiter Mike Devereux, is the fifth boss of Holden in four years.

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