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The Pub For General Automotive Related Talk |
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05-12-2011, 12:02 PM | #1 | ||
Chairman & Administrator
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: 1975
Posts: 107,517
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Ford Australia Product Development Director and E8 Vehicle Line Director, Russell Christophers has announced his retirement.
Christophers will finish work on December 31, after a career spanning almost 39 years with the Ford Motor Company. He joined Ford in 1973 as a Mechanical Engineering Graduate and has had a stellar career with the Blue Oval. Of his many career achievements, Christophers is best known as the “Father of the Ford Territory” for his unwavering commitment to build the country’s only locally designed and engineered SUV. “Russell has been a respected and key driving force behind many vehicles that our customers now own and drive,” according to Ford Australia President and CEO, Bob Graziano. “During his time at Ford he has also held many key positions across Truck Engineering, Product Planning for Australia and the Asia Pacific region, Program Management, Body Engineering CAE, test operations, Prototype Build and Vehicle Engineering. “You name it and Russell has had some input or responsibility for it.” Christophers was also the Product Planning Manager for Ford New Zealand and a key member of the Ford Asia Pacific team based in Melbourne working with Mazda on regional vehicles for the Asia Pacific Region and Australia. “One of his most significant contributions to the success of Ford Australia and the region was as the Chief Program Manager of the Territory, followed by the position of E8 Vehicle Line Director,” Graziano said. “In many ways, Russell is actually the father of the Territory. He led the launch of Territory from a product development perspective as well as other E8 product, most notably the FG Falcon.” The Territory is consistently ranked by motoring media as one of the country’s most practical, purpose-built SUVs and has won many awards, among them the highly coveted 2004 Wheels magazine Car Of The Year award and Australian Design Award. “We wish Russell and his wife Anne all the best for their future and thank him for his significant contribution to the Ford Motor Company,” Graziano said. Christophers’ role as the Product Development representative on the Australian Operating Committee will be filled by Jim Holland, APA Engineering Director. David Wilkinson will assume the position of E8 Vehicle Line Director and will report to APA Truck and Large Vehicles Programs Director, Gary Boes. Source: Ford Media
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Observatio Facta Rotae
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06-12-2011, 12:43 AM | #2 | ||
You dig, we stick!
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 7,461
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What a career! Legend.
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06-12-2011, 12:23 PM | #3 | ||
Not of the Sooty variety!
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: On a Shrinking Planet
Posts: 1,817
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Would love to get in a Q&A session with him!
Wishing all the best.
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"To be afraid is to be alive - to act against that fear is to be a person of courage." Current
The Toy: 2002 AUIII TS50 The Daily and Tow Vehicle: 2016 VW Amarok |
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06-12-2011, 03:36 PM | #4 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Newcastle
Posts: 3,246
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He oversaw some terrific products. All the best for him in retirement
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BA2 XR8 Rapid M6 Ute - Lid - Tint -18s 226.8rwkW@178kmh/537Nm@140kmh 1/9/2013 14.2@163kmh 23/10/2013 Boss349 built. Not yet run. Waiting on a shell. Retrotech thread http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthr...1363569&page=6 |
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06-12-2011, 07:56 PM | #5 | ||
^^^^^^^^
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: online - duh
Posts: 9,642
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All the best in retirement Mr Russell Christophers.
I remember speaking to you during the Ford Forums raid #2, trying to squeeze some details out of you about EA265 (now Territory). You were very tight lipped but obviously proud of what was to come. I love your product(s) and I'm sure you'd have plenty of stories to tell. Maybe you should write a book.
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06-12-2011, 10:23 PM | #6 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 487
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Thank you (and your co-workers) for the Territory Russell.
Our first new family car. Still going strong. To my way of thinking it found a gaping hole in the market and filled it perfectly. The AWD/RWD mix is now used throughout the SUV class, and you guys really pioneered it. Cheers! |
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07-12-2011, 08:17 AM | #7 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Shoalhaven
Posts: 3,161
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I wonder whether there's just a hint, as the Terri has such strong appeal to women, that Mrs Christophers is the "mother" of the Ford Territory?
I'm sure a lot of ideas must have gone back and forth over the kitchen counter! |
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07-12-2011, 01:05 PM | #8 | |||
You dig, we stick!
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 7,461
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Quote:
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08-12-2011, 03:49 AM | #9 | ||
Straight Eight
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Western Australia
Posts: 2,049
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Well if JPD80 won't play wet blanket here... I will.
"I wonder if he is leaving because the products he fostered are about to be axed." (Here's to that not happening - clink)
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The Falcon is dead. Long live the Mighty Falcon. |
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08-12-2011, 01:53 PM | #10 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 531
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Quote:
Congrats on a great career, though. The Territory shifted the family SUV category for good. |
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08-12-2011, 02:33 PM | #11 | ||||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,021
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Quote:
Territory and Falcon still have 4 or 5 more years left yet, maybe more. What is the morbid fascination with the demise of Ford Australia on this site. You never hear about Holden shutting down over on LS1 forums and yet, a smart man would acknowledge that on a business level, Ford are much stronger than Holden/GM.
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08-12-2011, 04:14 PM | #12 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,876
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Great car, Even SX Territorys with over 150,000km still run rings around the brand new SUVs from Holden, Toyota and Mazda in terms of driveability, comfort, handling and steering.
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08-12-2011, 10:15 PM | #13 | |||
Straight Eight
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Western Australia
Posts: 2,049
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Quote:
Now the positiveness can carry over before even a second page happens!
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The Falcon is dead. Long live the Mighty Falcon. |
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11-12-2011, 09:31 PM | #14 | ||
B1 - J & D Services
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Brim, Victoria
Posts: 1,636
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I sadly think that he is going with the E8...
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Mr. Brett Johnstone. 2002 Ford Laser 2000 Ford Falcon Wagon Egas 1999 Subaru Imprezza Sportwagon 1998 Holden Suburban 2500 1995 Land Rover Discovery TDI 1994 XG XR6 Longreach 1983 Holden Rodeo 1975 Datsun 120Y wagon 1970 MG Midget 1967 Rover 2000TC Soon: Model T. |
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