The first thing that grabbed our attention when approaching the entrance to Ford Motor Co.'s annual stockholders meeting was the sight of a Ford idling in a corner.
It wasn't an Escort or Mustang or Thunderbird but one of the flesh-and-blood Fords, Edsel, grandson of the company founder, son of the late Henry Ford II, and newly named president of Ford Motor Credit Co., the automaker's financing arm.Edsel, 42, stood alone nursing a cup of coffee while waiting for other company directors before the start of the company's annual meeting.
When we approached, Edsel broke into his familiar "Caught me when I wasn't expecting it" smile.
"I've only been president of Ford Credit for six days, so careful what you ask," he said, laughing.
"In keeping with your new position in the financial world of Ford Motor Co., is it true your wife has now ordered you to balance the family budget?" we asked.
Edsel's beam broadened. No need for a tag day for Edsel, or any Ford for that matter, much less concern over managing the family coffers. But now Edsel does have some real money worries, the earnings of Ford Motor Credit he now must oversee.
Ready for balance sheets when you'd rather be balancing a cup of coffee with one hand and steering a Thunderbird super coupe around Ford's Dearborn test track with the other?
"I'm a product man. I love the product and I'll miss the product," said the man who moved up from the post of Ford's executive director-marketing staff to take the Ford Motor Credit presidency.
If, as expected, Edsel ends up in the chairman's office his father once occupied, he needs some financial seasoning.
But he takes promotions one at a time and for now is focusing on financial operations.