Geoff Polites becomes CEO of Jaguar and Land Rover

Aussie Falcon · 22-07-2005, 03:12 PM

THE former boss of Ford Australia, Geoff Polites, will soon become one of the highest-ranking Australians in the Ford empire when he takes up his new position as chief executive officer of Jaguar and Land Rover in England from August 1. Mr Polites, who was in charge of Ford Australia between 1999 and 2004, has been based in Germany for the past 18 months, where he has been the sales and marketing director of Ford of Europe.

Mr Polites, 57, said the job offer came as a "complete shock". "I thought I was coming here for four years, would serve my time and then head off into the sunset."

http://www.smh.com.au/news/business/...539093118.html

Way to go Geoff!

M14A-Mclaren · 22-07-2005, 03:15 PM

Frickin Awesome! Congrats to Geoff.

galaxy xr8 · 22-07-2005, 03:17 PM

Good on him, this man is going places.

zetec · 22-07-2005, 03:21 PM

Go Uncle Geoff!!

XA-Coupe · 22-07-2005, 03:29 PM

Excellent news, great to see him getting the recognition he deserves .... well done Uncy Geoff !

b2tf · 22-07-2005, 03:32 PM

Onya Geoffy! Might we soon see a good ol' Australian Jaguar UTE?!

**Full Noise** · 22-07-2005, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XA Coupe

Excellent news, great to see him getting the recognition he deserves .... well done Uncy Geoff !

So when does the export program for the GT’s start? :hihi: :hihi: :hihi:

Cheers, Danny

The MaDDeSTMaN · 22-07-2005, 04:04 PM

Excellent news! Good on him!

TZENU · 22-07-2005, 04:15 PM

Good stuff Geoffo,,, congrats!!! he is truly an ozzy icon!

davocol · 22-07-2005, 05:12 PM

Bloody hell that is unbelievable news, good on you Geoff.

Sourbastard · 22-07-2005, 05:23 PM

Golf Clap.

Dark Horse · 22-07-2005, 05:24 PM

Well done Geoff!

MrSparkle · 22-07-2005, 05:55 PM

Great work Uncy Geoff! Your leadership at Ford AU has shown the world what you're made of - and clearly Ford HQ has seen this and acted accordingly.

Now, if he manages to read this thread, I have a small suggestion - can we have an AWD X-Type with the blown 4.2 please?

galaxy xr8 · 23-07-2005, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrSparkle

Great work Uncy Geoff! Your leadership at Ford AU has shown the world what you're made of - and clearly Ford HQ has seen this and acted accordingly.

Now, if he manages to read this thread, I have a small suggestion - can we have an AWD X-Type with the blown 4.2 please?

I for one hope he read's your post, yes please.

sbutler · 22-07-2005, 06:00 PM

Our loss is there gain.......

22-07-2005, 06:07 PM

I guess the only way was up for Uncle Geoff. Good on him.

ford.boy · 22-07-2005, 06:09 PM

And let the engine swapping rumours commence... NOW

;)

LUXO_8 · 23-07-2005, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ford.boy

And let the engine swapping rumours commence... NOW

;)

a V10 engines Xtype perhaps.......:hihi:

Smoked · 23-07-2005, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ford.boy

And let the engine swapping rumours commence... NOW

;)

6 Spd auto and V10 for the falcon, ok.

The Stylist · 22-07-2005, 06:56 PM

Fantastic news! congratulations Geoff and all the best for the new position.

MRJUCY · 22-07-2005, 07:09 PM

Wow congrats to Uncle Geoff nobody deserves the role more & it's great to see him running a company (2 even) again

paul7v7 · 22-07-2005, 09:35 PM

congrats to Geoff, all the best in the new job and hope it brings even more success, how many more steps up the ladder until head of the ford empire?

Paxton · 23-07-2005, 12:41 PM

Jaguar Territory anyone? What about the Jaguar Falcon? No Takers?

Anyway, congratulations to Mr Polites. If not for his vision and foresight, I would be in a LandCruiser now instead of a Territory. Hopefully we can see Jaguar shake the cardigan and make a few modern looking cars that look good instead of just looking good. The Discovery3 is a nice drive, but it needs something that Geoff can give it. Great news for the last two prominent Brittish car companies (not including Vauxhill)

-Andrew

EDManual · 23-07-2005, 09:42 PM

would be great if Geoff could get a turbo diesel engine in a falcon! I'd buy that!

They are really incredible engines these days, we are missing out on them.

AlbertM · 24-07-2005, 09:13 AM

Congratualations to Geoff!

It takes an Aussie to show the world how it's done.

Geoff Polites · 25-07-2005, 09:43 PM

Thanks for all your thoughts. It will be a big challenge and a steep learning curve but I am really looking forward to the change.

M14A-Mclaren · 26-07-2005, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geoff Polites

Thanks for all your thoughts. It will be a big challenge and a steep learning curve but I am really looking forward to the change.

Well that answers my question, good luck Geoff.

Aussie Falcon · 27-07-2005, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geoff Polites

Thanks for all your thoughts. It will be a big challenge and a steep learning curve but I am really looking forward to the change.

Good to see you again on the Forums!

another article
The Australian Newspaper 27 Jul 2005:

Quote:

Lessons learnt at Ford Australia to drive Jaguar, Land Rover
Robert Wilson

JAGUAR and Land Rover are in good shape says their new chief Geoff Polites. The former president of Ford Australia will become one of the most senior Australians in the car industry when he takes over the luxury brands on September 1

``I'm excited about it. It's really great to have a car company to run again'' Polites said from Germany where he is Ford of Europe's sales and marketing chief

Polites said he would bring two lessons from his five years at the helm of Ford Australia: the importance of being close to customers and of developing flexible solutions. And he said there was one crucial difference between running the two loss-making brands of Ford's Premier Automotive Group and taking over Ford Australia in 1999 -- the cars are better. ``I know there's some pretty good product coming so in that regard I think Jaguar and Land Rover are in good shape'' he said

It's a welcome contrast to what he found when he returned to Ford Australia as president after 11 years running a successful dealership. He found a company in crisis with mounting losses slumping sales for its main model the AU Falcon and a lack of future models

``When I came to Ford we didn't have a firm plan for BA (Falcon) we were due to lose Festiva and Laser sales were down'' he recalled. Polites oversaw the development of Ford's comeback BA Falcon and gave the green light to a project that the first time he mentioned it in one of his monthly media briefings sounded somewhat vague

However out of the plan for a vehicle combining the best features of a sedan people-mover and four-wheel drive came the smash-hit Ford Territory

Polites said he had no grand plans for Jaguar and Land Rover -- yet. ``I'm sitting here in Cologne worrying about how we'll get the numbers for July. After that's locked away I'll think about Jaguar and Land Rover '' he said. ``I've truly no idea what the priorities will be. I think the same priorities apply in any car company

``It's about making a return for the shareholders and the only way you can do that is by making great cars having a cost base that works and getting a return. This is essentially a simple business made complex by external factors.'

Composed but ever so slightly embarrassed by the spotlight Polites said he would not take credit for any turnaround at Jaguar or Land Rover

``If we get it right it won't be me'' he said. ``There's no white knight in this business. The reality is there are a whole bunch of people there who have to get it right and I think they're doing a lot of right things now -- I think they're in good shape to have some success with the products they've got coming.'

But those two lessons he learned as head of Ford Australia would help him in England where Jaguar and Land Rover are based

``I suppose one of the good things I learned at Ford of Australia was how we got very close to our customers '' he said. ``It gave me an appreciation of how powerful a tool that is. I think at times car companies can get removed from their customers. I don't know how removed or close Jaguar and Land Rover are -- although looking at the new range of Land Rovers I'd say they're fairly close. They've kicked three goals from three tries (in the Range Rover Discovery and Range Rover Sport).'

He also said Australians were efficient at designing and producing cars. ``I wouldn't call it seat-of-the-pants but we're very efficient at using assets'' he said. ``We look for ways to do things differently and we certainly look at problems differently to the way they do in Ford of Europe.'

``That urgency that speed is something that comes out of Australia and if I can make some contributions in that regard that would be good.'

And despite the disruption of moving home for the second time in two years -- after going to the trouble of learning German and earning a prized German driving licence -- he's looking forward to getting back in the driver's seat

Chucky · 24-07-2005, 08:42 PM

Good luck big fella. If anyone can turn around Jaguar Cars it's Big Geoff.

Lets hope it's a product led revolution like we had here with the BA & Tezza. Jaguar badly need an SUV & I reckon a Tezza based Jaguar (design concept) would definately take the brand places.

Congratulations Geoff. Thoroughly deserved this appointment.

M14A-Mclaren · 24-07-2005, 11:16 PM

Does Geoff browse these forums from time to time? I remember he did on the old site.