This plan works, says Bill. It protects the company, not least by allowing the new talent to fail or succeed somewhere else, regardless of their surname. “I didn’t have that,” he adds with some regret. “So for the early part of my career, I used to wonder: am I only here because of my last name?”
Nick Ford, the younger brother still in his first year at Ford, offers an intriguing insight into joining the family firm. “You know you shouldn’t have a bad day,” he says, “because everyone’s watching, for better or worse. It’s a big shift from working somewhere else and a great responsibility. But it’s a great honour as well.”
Nick, whose first five years was spent in management consultancy at Boston Consulting, is now part of a team that is building partnerships and developing Ford’s future enterprise strategy. Much of it is secretfor now, and for good reason, he says.
“The industry is in a sort of speed-dating period now, preparing for future challenges,” he explains. “What’s reassuring is that so many companies are lining up, wanting to do business with Ford. It’s testament to how well we are positioned and how strong our brand is.”
According to his father and brother, Will Ford has the job everyone wants. As general manager of Ford Performance, his task is to build and finesse Ford’s motorsport portfolio, working with global motorsport director Mark Rushbrook. There’s a Mustang racing “pyramid” now, he says, starting with a junior driving academy, rising through a one-make series for Mustang Dark Horse Rs to Mustang GT3 racing at the highest level.
