Ford botches Explorer launch, putting CEO back on hot seat

Ford Motor Co.’s Jim Hackett and Wall Street analysts started this year frustrated with one another. Sure, the automaker had been underperforming, but the chief executive appealed for time to show he was fixing things. He assured them the redesigned Explorer SUV rolling out months later would be a proof point. But rather than help the earnings results Ford delivers this week, the Explorer will be a hindrance. Sales have plunged as a plant plagued by personnel problems has struggled to get the new sport utility vehicle out the door. Thousands have been shipped 270 miles away to another Ford factory for rework. The botched Explorer launch puts Hackett back in the position he was early this year—testing the patience of investors. A downbeat assessment of how long it will take to turn the automaker around already cost the company an investment-grade credit rating. By pointing to the SUV as one of the first products he influenced, the CEO staked his reputation on it. "From a design, styling and content standpoint, it hit the marks,” Jeff Schuster, a forecasting analyst for LMC Automotive, said of the Explorer. “But if you can’t get out of the gate, that certainly is going to put some question marks not only on his credibility, but from a consumer standpoint, on the vehicle itself.” The transformation of Ford’s Chicago assembly plant was one of the most complex in the company’s history, a spokeswoman said. The company is shipping the new Explorer— the all-time best-selling... Continue reading at 'Advertising Age'

[ Advertising Age | 2019-10-21 21:58:49 UTC ]
News tagged with: #hostile environment #general motors #settle claims #troubled past

Other news stories related to: " Ford botches Explorer launch, putting CEO back on hot seat "


Ford botches Explorer launch, putting CEO back on hot seat

Ford Motor Co.’s Jim Hackett and Wall Street analysts started this year frustrated with one another. Sure, the automaker had been underperforming, but the chief executive appealed for time to show he was fixing things. He assured them the redesigned Explorer SUV rolling out months later would be... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2019-10-21 21:58:49 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #troubled past #settle claims #general motors #hostile environment


The Book People rebrands under Bayliss to put books back in the driving seat

Following an unsettled five years, The Book People’s new c.e.o. Claire Bayliss has arrived with a fresh vision for the company: a rebrand and a further restructure, delivering significant profit over the next three years. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-08-16 03:08:07 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book people #claire bayliss


Editorial: Swagger takes a back seat to competence and hard work at City Hall

At last, competency trumped loyalty.Mayor Eric Adams this week elevated Maria Torres-Springer — a deeply experienced public servant with allies in the business, real estate and nonprofit communities — to the number-two job at City Hall. The move elicited a collective sigh of relief that some... Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2024-10-11 10:03:49 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #pearson #andrew cuomo #growing list


Knopf Doubleday Puts Anchor on the Back Shelf as Suzanne Herz Takes a Buyout

Vintage/Anchor publisher Suzanne Herz will leave Penguin Random House in December. Anchor Books will gradually be phased out, starting with its hardcover program next January, with its 16,000-strong paperback backlist slated to move over to Vintage over time. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-09-07 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #penguin random house #anchor books


Tokyopop Marks 25 Years: CEO Stu Levy Looks Back and Ahead

Founded 25 years ago by Stu Levy at a time when manga was a niche within a niche, Tokyopop brought manga—Japanese book-format comics—to a new generation of young American fans, ushering in a new era in North American comics. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-05-18 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #manga


Creative Access launches bursary as financial obstacles put off publishing hopefuls

Creative Access is launching a career development bursary with McLaren Racing following research showing 70% of people interested in a publishing job have not applied because of financial obstacles.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-10-27 01:54:56 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing job #creative access


Stanfords launches crowdfunder as coronavirus puts future in 'grave danger'

London map and travel book specialist Stanfords has launched a £120,000 crowdfunding campaign and warned that the coronavirus crisis has put its future in “grave danger”. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-04 05:05:13 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #travel book #coronavirus crisis


Former Bobit CEO Launches New Company, Acquires Machine Learning Conference

An ongoing pause on large-scale gatherings in the U.S. during the second quarter of 2020, unsurprisingly, also led to a near-total shutdown of M&A activity in the conference and trade show space. At the onset of Q3, however, the Machine Learning Conference—an eight-year-old events series... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2020-07-13 16:41:14 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #autonomous operations #due diligence #showing signs #broader set #stronger position #made sense


Racing Post Launches Digital Version After Coronavirus Puts Paper on Hold

The Racing Post, the sport’s daily trade newspaper, will relaunch a digital version of its print edition from Saturday, just Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2020-03-27 22:22:30 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital version #racing post


J.D. Vance has launched a VC fund named after a Tolkien artifact and backed by Peter Thiel.

As Bloomberg reports, J. D. Vance, bestselling author of Hillbilly Elegy, Yale graduate, and venture capitalist has teamed up with Peter Thiel, Eric Schmidt, and Marc Andreessen of Silicon Valley to establish a venture capital firm in Ohio called Narya Capital. If “Narya” sounds familiar to you,... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-01-10 20:12:30 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bestselling author #lit hub #silicon valley #marc andreessen #eric schmidt #venture capitalist #hillbilly elegy #bloomberg reports #peter thiel


Idris Elba-backed literary podcast Generation veX to explore race

A new podcast exploring race and identity in literature with guests including Bernardine Evaristo, Sara Collins and Derek Owusu has been launched, sponsored by Idris Elba’s production company. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-21 13:07:13 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #production company #idris elba #derek owusu #sara collins


PRH-backed StorySign app launches on Apple iOS

StorySign, a free mobile app that translates children’s books into sign language, has launched on Apple iOS. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-09-24 00:27:16 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #sign language


A view of China, from the back — and front — seat of a cab

Frank Langfitt’s “The Shanghai Free Taxi” offers an unusual perspective on a rapidly changing country. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2019-07-11 14:35:47 UTC ]
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Lee Iacocca, a star CEO who led Ford and saved Chrysler, has died

Lee Iacocca, the U.S. auto executive and television pitchman whose feel for consumers’ changing tastes helped produce the Ford Mustang and the Chrysler minivan and made him one of the first celebrity CEOs, has died. He was 94. His death was confirmed Tuesday by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles in a... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2019-07-03 14:58:55 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #—bloomberg news #heart attack


Beast Mode: Daily Beast CEO Heather Dietrick explores the power of the news publisher’s brand

The Gawker alumna has focused on diversifying the midsize news publisher's revenue streams and growing the size of its loyal audience. The post Beast Mode: Daily Beast CEO Heather Dietrick explores the power of the news publisher’s brand appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2019-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #loyal audience #revenue streams #news publisher #beast mode #brand appeared


This new AR app puts women back in the history books

Up to 89% of history textbook references are devoted to men, so “Lessons in Herstory” aims to restore women’s standing in the American story. Open up most elementary and high school history books and you’ll find stories of corruption, triumph, innovation, conflict, and resolution, that all have... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2019-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #history books


Amanda Ridout back with Boldwood Books launch

Amanda Ridout is to return to publishing with the launch of Boldwood Books focused on commercial fiction published globally and "energetically". Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-01-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amanda ridout


An NFL-backed data firm is launching a sports-gambling marketing company

Sportradar AG, a data provider backed by the NFL and Michael Jordan, is launching a new sports-gambling marketing company, seeking to capitalize on the rapidly growing billion-dollar industry.Called Ad:s, the company will help sports books reach new customers through TV, radio, internet and... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2019-01-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Barnes & Noble’s Former CEO, Demos Parneros, Launches Lawsuit Against Bookseller

A late-summer standoff has flared with the US publishing industry's largest–and longest-struggling–brick-and-mortar retail chain. Its former CEO is suing for defamation. The company, in response, alleges sexual harassment. The post Barnes & Noble’s Former CEO, Demos Parneros, Launches... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-08-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing industry #demos parneros #barnes noble


Igloo overhaul puts business back on track

Igloo Books, the mass-market children’s books business owned by Bonnier Publishing, has undergone an overhaul thanks to its new chief executive officer, who has affirmed the division’s future profitability. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bonnier publishing #igloo books