Prakash Patel, Ford’s global director of program management and former lead planner for the sixth-generation Mustang, has left the company. Ford Motor Company confirmed Patel’s departure to Automotive News, but declined to discuss the circumstances surrounding his termination.
This makes Patel the second high-ranking exec to leave Ford under a dark cloud this year. In February, former Ford North America president Raj Nair departed the company after an internal investigation turned up instances of “inappropriate behavior” that was “inconsistent with the company’s code of conduct.”
Former Lincoln Motor Company boss Kumar Galhotra took over Nair’s position, but there’s been no word on who’s filling Patel’s shoes. Frankly, much like with Nair, there’s next to no word on what alleged occurrence sparked the investigation.
While a Ford spokesman claimed the issue was a “personal matter,” a source told Automotive News that Patel’s firing was the result of inappropriate behavior.
Before taking on global program director role in January 2017, Patel served as business manager for Ford’s performance arm — a role he continued until his recent departure. The executive’s time at the automaker saw him wear numerous hats. He once headed up strategy for the Lincoln brand, attempting to boost the status of the once-moribund division, and before that saw him knee-deep in Mustang work.
For nearly seven years (February 2009 to December 2015), Patel was the go-to guy on the Mustang file, heading up work on the 50th anniversary Global Mustang (S550) program. The sixth-generation Mustang went into production in July 2014.
Hey Ford execs, keep your hands (and other body parts) to yourself…
I hope it was worth it, boys
Patel told the company leadership he thought they should keep making sedans.
Yes, that would be ‘inappropriate behavior’.
For saying they should continue to lose money on a segment buyers are turning away from in droves, yes, that sounds like a poor suggestion.
Good thing awesome cars like the Camry are immune to sales declines, so Toyota can laugh all the way to the bank…then embarrassingly stop laughing and sheepishly stare at the floor when they see the Super Duty-sized check Ford is cashing made of truck and utility vehicle profits.
Obviously, this problem pervades every industry, business, organization, and culture to varying degrees.
Although there a few ‘me too’ folks who are looking to destroy someone with the flimsiest stories, the problem is real, and it takes great courage for accusers to come out and talk about it.
Unfortunately, the origins of the problem are both familial and cultural. For starters, fathers need to teach their sons how to treat women – in word and deed. It’s not enough to simply say that bad behavior could cost you your job someday, but that threat does stand as extra incentive to behave.
Brings new meaning to “Ford Explorer”.
Have you forgotten the Ford Probe? Who’s idea was that?
“Brings new meaning to “Ford Explorer”.”
Barney: Ladies and gentlemen, I have in my hand a copy of tonight’s Top Ten list. The category: top ten things I would’ve called my truck…
Ted: It was never your truck.
Barney: if Ted hadn’t been a jerk and given it back.
Ted: It was a rental.
Barney: Number ten, “The Winne-Bango.”
Number nine, “The Pick-Up Truck.”
Number eight, “The Ford Explore Her.”
Number seven, “The You Scream Truck.” You Scream. (they all laugh)
Number six, “Feels on Wheels!” Hello!
Number five, “The Ride Her Truck.”
Number four, “The 18-Squeeler.”
Number three, “The Esca-Laid.”
Number two, “The Slam-Boney.”
and… the number one thing I would’ve called my truck if Ted hadn’t been a jerk and given it back… “The ’69 Chevy.”
OK, you’re all too young to know this reference, but:
“Are you now, or have you ever been, inappropriate by any measure that will ever be defined at any time during your life?”
Sir, answer only in Yes or No: do you still beat your wife?
I may or may not be too young, but I don’t get the reference. Where is it from?
Google was no help at all.
Do others push you around?
Do you often sing or whistle just for the fun of it?
Do you sometimes feel that your age is against you (too young or too old)?
Does emotional music have quite an effect on you?
When will the fail stop at Ford?
They can’t figure out how to make money on ~500k cars sold a year, their PR department is a joke, they fire Fields who didn’t have a chance to clean up the cancerous Mulally years and bring in Hackett who is an abomination, and now this.
Frankly this guy should have been let go a while ago for what he did to the front end of the Mustang.
You proved yourself an idiot by the comment on Mulally.
Things will improve at Ford when their car line becomes as robust as Mitsubishi.
Ford – the land without cars.
All these guys would do well to remember the old adage; Don’t sh** where you eat. There is a whole world out there and money (which they do not lack) helps.
Just get rid of anyone at Ford who actually cares about cars. Probably someone from Office Depot or some furniture store waiting to fill the role.
There seems to be a lot of Indian names at the top of Ford. Sounds like they still want open bobs and show vagene
Prakash, we know you’re a big Lions fan — but slapping your secretary on the ass is not an appropriate way to tell her she did a good job. Now pack up your crap and get out.