FPV Scalped - Management Sacked In Surprise Move
Joe Kenwright
22 January 2007
www.carpoint.com.au
Ford Performance Vehicles was 'decapitated' by owner Prodrive last week in a move that even caught Ford Australia on the hop.
In a shock move Ford Performance Vehicles was decapitated last Friday. The move -- in which much of the FPV senior management team was dismissed -- was announced in a short statement issued by minority partner, Ford Australia.
FPV is a joint-venture between Ford Australia and UK-based automotive and race engineering specialist, Prodrive. The latter holds 51 per cent of FPV and operates what is effectively Ford's local hero car arm.
The retrenchments included recently-appointed managing director Sak Ryopponen and senior marketing, product planning, customer and media relations personnel.
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FPV Accelerates Despite Retrenchments
Bruce Newton
24 January 2007
www.smh.com.au
Ford and partner Prodrive have committed to the future of the Ford Performance Vehicles joint venture despite last week's sudden retrenchment of virtually all the company's top management.
Managing director Sak Ryopponen (left), plus eight senior marketing, finance and product support staff were given their marching orders in what appears to be a massive cost-cutting exercise. Mr Ryopponen had been MD for seven months.
The retrenchments came just days after FPV announced a record 2144 sales in 2006. Created in 2002 as a direct competitor for the successful Holden Special Vehicles operation, FPV modifies and markets Falcon V8 and turbocharged six-cylinder sedans and utilities
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