FPV Appoints New General Manager

[Donut King]

Ford Performance Vehicles Appoints New General Manager

Ford Australia and Prodrive today announced the appointment of Rod Barrett as General Manager of Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV). Barrett is an experienced business leader with an extensive sales and marketing history for multinational companies across Australasia, UK and throughout Asia, including 11 years of senior management with The Coca-Cola Company and over two years with Fosters Group.

His most recent role was as Commercial Director of Ford Performance Racing, where he was a key architect of the team's commercial and on-track success in 2005 and 2006.

Rod has had a long interest in motoring, with an international motor racing career that spanned 13 years and involved competition in a host of Australia and British circuit racing championships from 1979 to 1992.

Prodrive Asia Pacific Managing Director Bryan Mears said that Barrett's proven management record and experience in the performance motoring industry gives him an intrinsic understanding of FPV's philosophy, and this was a contributing factor in his appointment.

"Rod joins FPV at a time when the company has just recorded its equal second best sales month ever, and he is the ideal person to lead a new FPV team into the next phase of the company's growth.

"Rod will focus on the execution of our sales plans and the delivery of a range of exciting new products as we lead into the launch of a new Ford and FPV line up next year."

Ford Australia President Tom Gorman said the company looks forward to working with Barrett during an exciting new phase of model development and introduction.

"Rod's industry experience and his passion for performance motoring make him the perfect choice to lead our performance partner. We will work closely with Rod, as we have done with FPV in the past, to continue developing the well deserved iconic stature of the FPV brand in Australia."

Rod will commence as General Manager of FPV on August 1st. His replacement at Ford Performance Racing will be announced shortly.

[Tles]

That's a good choice. I read a snippet saying that FPV's marketing and media liaison has been handed (back from Ford) over to Advantis Sports Management's David Segal. Sounded reasonable too, they operate Lowndesy's website for starters.

[JerseyVics]

They hired a car nut!

--Russ

[csv8]

Originally Posted by JerseyVics

They hired a car nut!

--Russ

FORD did something right for once !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[xr8 utey]

top choice!

[Bucket]

now we're talkin

[Mikey]

Well how about that then... We do have a leader after all...

Let's hope his enthusiam is not curbed and guttered in anyway by the powers above. If you've seen the pics of the Orion in MOTOR MAG its gunna be a beauty in an FPV outfit.

Please, better brakes, less weight, a few more horses and a handling package to boot!

Cant wait for the newy!!!

Lets hope he can do a good job and make FPV better and more competitive.

[FPV8U]

With the way he helped turn FPR around, im very excited to see how he goes.

[phillyc]

Sales had been below 200 per month for FPV since the VE was launched. That article said that they just had their second best ever sales month last month (June 2007) so i wonder if they got back up to the 300-350 region? If so, that will be great!

Yeah, I recognised his name straightaway, so very happy to see them hire Rod Barrett. Well done, you've got yourself a car and motorsport nut. Someone, who clearly wants Ford to win on the road and on the track! That is precisely what the Blue Oval needs

[gtfpv]

another mule for F O R D. to chew up and spit out . WOW. poor sod .

[Smoke Pursuit]

god i hope he does a better job, FPV is a disgrace, infact FPVs customer service is worse then Fords.... Their finish on product is also worse, especially in the bumper department...

[FPV 5TH]

"Barrett's proven management record and experience in the performance motoring industry gives him an intrinsic understanding of FPV's philosophy, and this was a contributing factor in his appointment"

Intrinsic understanding of FPV's philosophy? HAHAHAHA. So he knows that they dont care a damn once the car is sold? They fight you on warranty issues and never listen to what the buyers actually want in the new models. I think we ALL understand FPV's philosophy

[Walkinshaw]

I wonder if he has 290 tatooed on him somewhere?

[Lukeyson]

Originally Posted by Lightning BF_GT

They fight you on warranty issues and never listen to what the buyers actually want in the new models. I think we ALL understand FPV's philosophy

Too true, thats because accountants run the show !

[SpoolMan]

Originally Posted by Donut King

"Rod joins FPV at a time when the company has just recorded its equal second best sales month ever, and he is the ideal person to lead a new FPV team into the next phase of the company's growth.

I wish him all the best in his job.
Interesting they must flogging a few cars I think the FPV record is around 520 for a month, for FPV to run 2nd to that number means there still selling a decent amount of cars.... even with the Holden also having record sales.