The Hindu Business Line : Michael Boneham at Ford India helm

Welcome aboard: Mr Michael Boneham, who will take over as President and Managing Director, Ford India, from Mr Arvind Mathew (right), from June 1, at a press conference in Chennai on Thursday.

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Chennai, May 1 Mr Michael Boneham, now Executive Director of operations at Ford India, will steer the company as it moves into its next growth phase.

He will take over as Ford India’s President and Managing Director from June 1, succeeding Mr Arvind Mathew, who is going back to Ford Motor Company’s headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan, to join the global product development team.

Mr Boneham, who has more than 20 years experience in the automotive industry and has held various positions in Ford Motor Company, will be the fifth Managing Director of Ford India.

He told a press conference here that the challenges before him would be to deliver what the company expected of him in terms of the expansion and growth plans.

Expansion plans

Ford India has announced a $500-million expansion programme to be completed by 2010, which will include launching a small car. The first phase of the engine plant has been inaugurated and in two years, the engine plant will have a capacity to make 2,50,000 units.

Mr Boneham, who has been in India since October last, and Mr Arvind Mathew said that the challenge before the company was to expand the dealer network and the supplier base, as it readied for the launch of the small car.

Mr Vinay Piparsania, who headed the marketing and sales operations at Ford India and who was deputed for assignments in Thailand and the Philippines, is back with Ford India and will head the marketing functions.

Doubling capacity

In January the company announced $500 million investments to double capacity to two lakh cars a year besides setting up engine assembling facility with an installed capacity of 2.5 lakh units. These capacity targets will be achieved by 2010.

Mr Mathew said nearly 70 per cent of the funds would come from Ford Motor Company as equity while the rest will be managed through local borrowings. He further said that couple of weeks ago the company rolled out Fiesta and Fusion fitted with diesel engines, machined and assembled at its new facility.