LONDON - When Jac Nasser hired former BMW executive Wolfgang Reitzle to run Premier Automotive Group, some observers predicted the new man might clash with Richard Parry-Jones, Ford's product development chief.
Would there be room at Ford for two strong-willed product development men? Both Reitzle and Parry-Jones visited London on the same day recently.
Far from clashing, the men revealed they have similar ways of thinking.
'It's terrific because he is, I realized today, thinking in the same way I am to the very last detail,' said Reitzle. 'It's a super team approach. It is not even necessary for the two of us to be in the same meeting together.'
Parry-Jones appeared in London to deliver a lecture entitled 'Engineering for Corporate Success in the New Millennium' at the Royal Academy of Engineering.
Parry-Jones spoke to reporters about Reitzle after the lecture. 'Wolfgang's job is to grow the businesses and brands,' he said. 'He and I have a very close relationship regarding how we bring brands to life.
'When we're in the same meeting, we can add value very quickly. We can very quickly elevate the outcome of the meeting. I really relish having another senior technical person at this level.'
