17^th October, 2000

Head of product development plans retirement

Ian Vaughan, vice-president of product development at Ford Australia, will retire at the end of the year.

One of the most well-known faces of Ford Australia, Ian joined the company as a graduate trainee in 1964. His contribution to the company has always been as much through his enthusiasm and passion for the product, and for Australian motorsport, as it has through his enduring commitment to the success and future of the Ford Falcon.

Ian’s passion for the product started early in his career, with the GT’s of the ‘60s. In 1968, he campaigned a GT Falcon in the London-Sydney rally, finishing in 3^rd place. He took the same car back for the 25^th anniversary of the event in 1993, this time coming in 2^nd.

His commitment to the event, and his quest for success in this field, is indicative of Ian’s commitment to the company and the product, particularly the Falcon, through his 36 years with Ford.

Ian’s career at Ford has spanned product development, quality assurance, manufacturing management, external affairs and business strategy.

As product programs planning manager, Ian worked with Mazda in the 1980’s to introduce the Laser car line to Australia. During this time he was a key contributor to Ford’s leadership of the new vehicle market.

As manufacturing manager, Ian oversaw the introduction of new quality methods and new people management practices to the Broadmeadows plant.

He went on to manage the activities of the company’s government and public affairs groups, representing Ford at the Industry Commission enquiry into the post-1992 Button Car Plan.

As vice-president of business strategy, then vice-president of product development, Ian developed the business and product strategy which culminated in the introduction of the AU and AUII Falcons, and the new Falcon ute, and which has secured the investment needed to take Falcon forward through the next new product cycle.

Not content to limit his enthusiasm to the confines of his job, Ian has also been a major contributor to the Australian industry through his work with Universities, forming the Advanced Engineering Centre and Co-operative Research Centres with joint Ford/Industry/University/Government participation. He recently received Melbourne University’s Kernot Medal, for his contribution to the engineering profession in Australia.

Ian intends to maintain his links with industry and commerce, as well as spending more time with his family and indulging his interests in golf, skiing, sailing and rallying.