Ford’s de Waard finds peace on his Harley

Born in Oegstgeest, Netherlands, Roelant de Waard earned a master’s degree in economics and business from Erasmus University in Rotterdam.

He joined Ford Netherlands in 1990 as a business management supervisor and was appointed sales manager in 1993 and marketing manager two years later.

He moved to Ford’s headquarters in Dearborn in 1996 to be the carmaker’s global marketing strategy manager. Two years later de Waard was named marketing plans manager at Ford’s large vehicle center.

He returned to Ford Netherlands in 1999 as director of operations. In 2001 he was promoted to director of retail management for Ford of Europe. His job was to restructure Ford’s dealer network and improve customer satisfaction improvement.

A year later he was appointed vice president of Ford’s European customer service division. He moved to the UK in early 2006 as chairman and managing director of Ford of Britain. He succeeded Roger Putnam.

Name: Roelant de Waard.

Title: Ford of Britain chairman and managing director.

Age: 45.

Languages: Dutch, English, German, French, Italian.

Nationality: Dutch.

Family: Wife Babet and three sons ages 9, 8 and 5.

Countries lived in: Netherlands, Italy, US, Germany, UK.

Education: Master’s degree in business and economics from the University of Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

What’s in your garage?

Ford S-Max, Caterham 7, Harley Davidson.

Describe your perfect day.

My annual classic car rally. This includes driving great cars, lively in-car fights over directions and finishing in the bar with my best friends.

What’s your greatest personal achievement?

My work-life balance

What do you do to relax?

Spend an hour on my Harley.

Where would you really like to live?

Southern France.

What’s the first thing you do when you get home?

Get out of my work clothes.

What kind of books do you read?

I recently finished “Race to Dakar” by Charley Boorman who also co-wrote “Long Way Round: Chasing Shadows Across the World” with Ewan McGregor.

If you could meet any figure from history, who would it be and why?

If I could travel in time I would rather meet someone from the future.

How would you describe your character?

I just did a Myers-Briggs psychological test and came out as ENTJ (tendency toward extraversion, intuition, thinking, judging). Apparently it meant I am fit for my job.

What is your fondest memory?

Proposing to Babet on the terrace of Hanavsky Pavilion in Prague.

What was your last purchase?

A TomTom One personal navigation device. TomTom CEO Harold Goddijn and I went to the same high school. I am impressed by people who see an opportunity and pursue it.

What’s your greatest extravagance?

Having taken up car racing with my Caterham.

What traits do you dislike in others?

I prefer to focus on the positives in people.

If you could change anything about yourself what would it be?

I have lots to improve but no big frustrations.

When are you not at your best?

Right after lunch.

What was the most fun you had last year that had nothing to do with the car business?

Windsurfing in the Seychelles, a group of about islands off the coast of east Africa.

What are your most treasured possessions?

My children.

What CDs are in your car now?

I listen to the radio to stay up with the news in the UK but otherwise I play up-tempo dance music.

Which words or phrases do you overuse?

I asked my team not to use the word “leverage” because it often means there is no real plan.

What’s your favorite restaurant?

Mario, an Italian restaurant in Neck near Amsterdam.

Which talent would you most like to have?

To be able to do long wheelies on my motorcycle and play the bass guitar properly.

You may e-mail Ian Morton at [email protected]