American Icon
Alan Mulally and the Fight to Save Ford Motor Company
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
The inside story of the epic turnaround of Ford Motor Company under the leadership of CEO Alan Mulally.
At the end of 2008, Ford Motor Company was just months away from running out of cash. With the auto industry careening toward ruin, Congress offered all three Detroit automakers a bailout. General Motors and Chrysler grabbed the taxpayer lifeline, but Ford decided to save itself.
Under the leadership of charismatic CEO Alan Mulally, Ford had already put together a bold plan to unify its divided global operations, transform its lackluster product lineup, and overcome a dysfunctional culture of infighting, backstabbing, and excuses. It was an extraordinary risk, but it was the only way the Ford family—America’s last great industrial dynasty—could hold on to their company.
Mulally and his team pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in business history. As the rest of Detroit collapsed, Ford went from the brink of bankruptcy to being the most profitable automaker in the world. American Icon is the compelling, behind-the-scenes account of that epic turnaround.
In one of the great management narratives of our time, Hoffman puts the reader inside the boardroom as Mulally uses his celebrated Business Plan Review meetings to drive change and force Ford to deal with the painful realities of the American auto industry.
Hoffman was granted unprecedented access to Ford’s top executives and top-secret company documents. He spent countless hours with Alan Mulally, Bill Ford, the Ford family, former executives, labor leaders, and company directors. In the bestselling tradition of Too Big to Fail and The Big Short, American Icon is narrative nonfiction at its vivid and colorful best.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
When the government offered to bail out the big three Detroit automakers, Ford decided to go it alone and save the family business. Unpopular as it was at the time, the decision proved to be a win for the company, which turned things around and fostered astounding growth and success. Narrator Pete Larkin delivers an excellent performance that takes listeners on a tour of the crunch-time decisions that changed the company. Larkin's deep, steady, and confident delivery is well suited to this tale of corporate greed and business deals. His style, reminiscent of a classic newsman, easily hooks listeners who will stick around to see how Ford managed the turnaround. A Crown Business hardcover.
Customer Reviews
Incredible
Easily one of my favourite reads ever.