Alan Mulally

Alan Mulally is an American engineer and business executive who led Ford Motor Company as CEO from 2006 to 2014 after heading Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

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Bill Ford: An American business executive and Ford family heir who served as Ford Motor Company’s chairman. As executive chairman, he recruited Mulally to lead Ford during its financial crisis.
One Ford: A Ford strategy that integrated global operations around shared platforms, products, and priorities. Mulally used it to align regional teams and concentrate resources on a unified product plan.
Ford Motor Company: An American automobile manufacturer founded in 1903 by Henry Ford and headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan. Mulally’s CEO tenure centered on restructuring this automaker and restoring its competitiveness.
University of Kansas: A public research university in Lawrence, Kansas, founded in 1865. Mulally earned engineering degrees there before beginning his aerospace career.
Mark Fields: An American business executive who succeeded Mulally as Ford Motor Company’s CEO in 2014. His succession marked the end of Mulally’s eight-year tenure at Ford.
Business Plan Review: A recurring management meeting in which leaders review performance, risks, and corrective actions. Mulally made Ford’s weekly review a forum for surfacing problems across departments.
2008–2010 automotive industry crisis: A severe downturn that drove major automakers into bankruptcy or emergency government-backed restructuring. Ford entered the downturn with financing secured before the crisis intensified.
University of Washington: A public research university in Seattle, Washington, founded in 1861. Mulally completed a master’s degree in aeronautics and astronautics there.
Donald Petersen: An American business executive who served as Ford Motor Company’s CEO from 1985 to 1990. Petersen’s leadership helped shape the company Mulally later sought to reorganize.
Working Together: A management principle emphasizing collaboration across organizational boundaries. Mulally promoted it to replace competition among Ford’s regional and functional leaders.