Interview: MARK FIELDS, Ford Motor Company President of the Americas

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By Bob Andelman

My first car—and I suspect yours, too—was a Ford.

I loved that car like no other since. It was 1977 and my father saw it sitting, day after day, in front of a neighbor’s house. One day, he knocked on the day and asked if the owner was interesting in selling it. The answer was yes and the price was right: $50. No kidding.

And that’s how I became the proud owner of a black, 1963 Ford Falcon sedan. It was one of only two cars I’ve ever owned that I could actually change the oil and accomplish a few other minor maintenance tasks by myself. (The second was a ’62 Falcon!) I gave that car all the best accoutrement: green shag carpets on the floor, an 8-track player… You get the idea. I was poor, but I had wheels!

That first car has been on mind lately as many of my friends’ kids are suddenly old enough to start driving and my 13-year-old daughter is starting to think about what her first car. Maybe a Ford: the Fit is cute, she says, as is the Focus.

But enough about me. Joining me in a moment is Mark Fields, executive vice president of the Ford Motor Company and president of Ford operations in the Americas. We’re going to talk about the “Summer of Taurus” promotion, the impact of the federal “Cash for Clunkers” program and what Ford plans next to sustain its sales momentum. And yes, I’m going to ask what Ford products he recommends for the next generation’s first car.


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Interview: JOHN VIERA, Ford Motor Company, director of sustainable business strategies

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By Bob Andelman

Ford Motor Company has a vision of providing sustainable transportation that is affordable in every sense of the word: socially, environmentally and economically.

Joining me in a moment is Ford executive John Viera. Viera is all about sustainability. As director of sustainable business strategies for the American automaker, he lives and breathes sustainability and is extremely passionate about achieving it.

What you’ll also find intriguing about Viera is that he came to sustainability from his last position, in which he was a chief engineer for Ford. That means he knows as well as anyone what is and isn’t possible and where the pressure points may lie for progress.

Ford believes that its sustainability strategy will be a key component of its business going forward. By remaining economically viable, it expects to make positive contributions to society and reduce the environmental impact of its products.

Responsibility for maintaining the Ford Motor Company’s high commitment to sustainability falls in my part to my guest, John Viera.

(Bob Andelman was paid a fee by BlogTalkRadio to host this commercial program.)




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Interview: SUE CISCHKE, Ford Motor Company, group vice president for sustainability, environment and safety engineering

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By Bob Andelman

Have you driven a Ford lately? Do you need a good reason to come back to America’s automobile company? If you’re making decisions based on a company’s commitment to the environment and a sustainable future, I hope you’ll stay with us for the next 30 minutes.

Joining me in a moment is Ford executive Cischke. She’s the company’s group vice president for sustainability, environment and—no kidding—safety engineering. I’ll have to remember to ask what the connection is!

And fyi, I’m told that Sue is also the highest-ranking woman at Ford.

I first learned of Bill Ford’s commitment to building sustainable automotive products almost a decade ago. A magazine assignment sent me to a corporate conference on sustainability at a time when it was a phrase that few people yet understand. But the names that everyone was buzzing about as early adopters were Nike’s Phil Knight—and Bill Ford.

Ford has made sustainability a major principle of his time in the chairman’s seat at the company his great-grandfather started back in 1903. And today, responsibility for maintaining the Ford Motor Company’s high commitment to sustainability falls to my gust, Sue Cischke, who joins us now.

(Bob Andelman was paid a fee by BlogTalkRadio to host this commercial program.)


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You can LISTEN to this interview with FORD MOTOR COMPANY group vice president for sustainability, environment and safety engineering SUE CISCHKE by clicking the BlogTalkRadio.com audio player above!


Copyright 2008 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!

Some stories may appear in unedited versions that are different from their print counterparts.

Interview: MARK FIELDS, Ford Motor Company EVP and president, The Americas

My first car—and I suspect yours, too—was a Ford.

I loved that car like no other since. It was 1977 and my father saw it sitting, day after day, in front of a neighbor’s house. One day, he knocked on their door and asked if the owner was interesting in selling it. The answer was yes and the price was right: $50. No kidding.

And that’s how I became the proud owner of a black, 1963 Ford Falcon sedan. It was one of only two cars I’ve ever owned that I could actually change the oil and accomplish a few other minor maintenance tasks by myself. (The second was a ’62 Falcon!) I gave that car all the best accoutrement: green shag carpets on the floor, an 8-track player… You get the idea. I was poor, but I had wheels!

That first car has been on mind lately as many of my friends’ kids are suddenly old enough to start driving and my 13-year-old daughter is starting to think about what her first car. Maybe a Ford: the Fit is cute, she says, as is the Focus.

But enough about me. Joining me in a moment is Mark Fields, executive vice president of the Ford Motor Company and president of Ford operations in the Americas. We’re going to talk about the “Summer of Taurus” promotion, the impact of the federal “Cash for Clunkers” program and what Ford plans next to sustain its sales momentum. And yes, I’m going to ask what Ford products he recommends for the next generation’s first car.

Open in your default player
Detach into a separate window

You can LISTEN to this interview with FORD MOTOR COMPANY executive vice president and president of The Americas MARK FIELDS by clicking the BlogTalkRadio.com audio player above!

Copyright 2008 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!
Some stories may appear in unedited versions that are different from their print counterparts.