Ford CEO Alan Mulally said Tuesday that he hasn't told the
company's board when he plans to retire.
"Absolutely not," the 67-year-old Mulally said when asked the
question in an interview on CNBC in New York. He was attending an
event to launch the new Fusion midsize car.
Mulally said he discusses succession plans regularly with the
board, but he gave no details. He also said there was no reason to
announce his retirement date because he's committed to serving the
company.
Speculation about Mulally's future has been rampant in Detroit.
It intensified last week when Ford's board discussed who might
replace him. No decision was announced.
Many in the company expect Americas President Mark Fields to be
promoted to chief operating officer, a step that prepares him to
take over for Mulally.
Mulally is highly respected at Ford for saving the company from
financial collapse. Shortly after he was hired away from Boeing Co.
in 2006, he mortgaged all of Ford's assets for a huge loan. The
$23.5 billion loan paid for a restructuring and helped keep Ford out
of bankruptcy protection.
