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 Philip
G Spender, President and Managing Director, Ford India Ltd,
has been appointed as the President, Chief Executive Officer
and Chief Operating Officer for Auto Alliance International Inc,
Michigan, USA. Auto Alliance International Inc, is a joint venture
between Mazda and Ford Motor Company and produces
the Mazda 626 and the Mercury Cougar.
Having worked with Ford for more than 24 years in various cross-functional
assignments, Spender came to India in 1999, after completing his
assignment as Plant Manager at Ford Motor Company's Broadmeadows
plant in Australia. His tenure in India was marked with the launch
of the brand new plant at Maraimalainagar and Ford's new car 'for
India by Indians', the Ford IKON. Under his leadership,
the Ford IKON established itself as a market leader with 24 per
cent market share in its segment. The IKON then went on to win the
Car of the Year award.
He also played an active role in SIAM, CII and the American
Chamber of Commerce, in order to formulate meaningful auto and
industrial policies in the country.
 When
Spender moved into India in 1999, his key task was to provide leadership
to the newly inaugurated Maraimalainagar plant and to develop the
supplier base and distribution network to handle higher volumes
and to launch and market a brand new product. He did precisely that
and more. The IKON has won the Best Brand of the Year award this
year.
In an exclusive interview with Chennaibest, Spender admitted to
have been a bit shocked by the enormous population of Chennai initially,
but added that he enjoyed living in Chennai, he enjoyed the coffee
bars in Chennai and was pleased to see the pace at which retail
was developing in Chennai. His favourite landmark in Chennai he
said was Fort St. George and Marina's promenade.
His move to the US is part of an international management change
at the Ford Motor Company.
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3:35:40 PM 
