`If you aren`t having fun, you should move on and do something else in life,` is the personal goal of Arvind Mathew, Managing Director and President of Ford India.And perhaps, that is why despite a range of Ford car models, FordMustang continues to be his personal favourite. Coupled with thisfun-filled attitude is a great amount of tenacity that has helped bothhim and his company to outshine competition.
An alumnus of BITSPilani, with MS and MBA from the University of Michigan, Arvind hasheld a range of positions in engineering, product planning, and newproduct implementation in North America, Germany, Spain, Turkey, andthe UK. With about 18 years of experience at Ford, there could be nobetter person than him who understands the dynamics of both his companyand the market so well.
This thorough knowledge of company andmarket affairs along with his `never say die attitude` saw him throughmany vicissitudes of magnanimous proportions in his career. Experienceslike rebuilding an entire assembly plant in Turkey in 1999, that wasdestroyed by an earthquake, in a matter of two months earned him hismoniker in his company - `The Vanguard of Vicissitude`.
WithIndia being a priority market for Ford, the US auto major has outlineda blueprint to invest $500 million to expand its operations in thecountry and to launch a small car in the next two years. In afreewheeling interview to Sify.com, Arvind shares his thoughts on the Indian auto industry and also spells out Ford India`s future plans.
Text: M.V. Amarnath
