[car fanatics]

Source
Photo credit: Nissan
March 12, 2012
By: CF staff

Before Alan Mulally was named CEO in summer 2006, it was widely reported that Bill Ford had pursued DaimlerChrysler's Dieter Zetsche and Renault-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn. Joe Laymon, Ford's executive vice president for human resources, did the actual pursuing. Laymon met with Ghosn at a restaurant in Tokyo. Ghosn was interested -- but the conditions were eye-popping.

It had taken Laymon three trips to Japan to get Ghosn to this restaurant. In the middle of dinner he reached into his pocket, pulled out an envelope, and slid Ford's offer across the table. Ghosn took a quick look at it, shook his head and handed it back to Laymon. He was not interested in working for Bill Ford. He would come to Dearborn. He would save Ford Motor Company. But he wanted to be CEO from the start -- and chairman.

"I can't do that," said a stunned Laymon.

Ghosn smiled. "Just tell Bill that I'm his man -- provided I'm CEO and chairman," he insisted.

Laymon excused himself and went out to call Bill Ford.

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Glad that didn't happen