In 2008, while automakers plodded along with the same old gas-guzzling models as the price at the pump hit record highs, American consumers scrambled for more fuel-efficient vehicles and left the gas-guzzlers to collect dust on the showroom floor.
Under his leadership, the company eliminated and sold under-performing brands, brought back the best-selling Taurus nameplate, invested heavily in social media and digital marketing efforts, and developed new fuel-efficient models to counteract high prices at the pump.