<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/euro/" rel="tag">Europe</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/hirings-firings/" rel="tag">Hirings/Firings/Layoffs</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a></p><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/fordludmannleave.jpg" />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><small>2012 Ford Focus - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em></div>
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<img align="right" hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/fordludmannleave2.jpg" />Jens Ludmann, the German engineer in <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/ford">Ford</a>'s European arm who led the development of the S-Max, Mondeo and 2012 <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/focus">Focus</a>, is departing the automaker after a successful 10-year run. Where to? He's leaving the Blue Oval to join the deep blue sea, taking over as CEO of Bavaria Yachtbau, a German builder of sailing and motor yachts.<br />
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While his industry and title will change, the aim of his job won't: turn compelling ideas into profitable products. Having done that with three of Ford's best known vehicles in just ten years, Bavaria Yachtbau could have made a great score, and Ford has a massive gap to fill.<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2010-next-gen-ford-focus/">Detroit 2010: Next-Gen Ford Focus</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2010-next-gen-ford-focus/#2607924"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/10_focus2010detroitlive_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2010-next-gen-ford-focus/#2607925"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/11_focus2010detroitlive_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2010-next-gen-ford-focus/#2607914"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/01_focus2010detroitlive_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2010-next-gen-ford-focus/#2607915"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/02_focus2010detroitlive_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2010-next-gen-ford-focus/#2607916"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/03_focus2010detroitlive_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
[Source: <a href="http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100710/ANE/100719996/1254">Automotive News</a> - Sub. Req.]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/12/report-focus-chief-engineer-leaves-ford-for-yacht-builder/">Report: Focus chief engineer leaves Ford for... yacht builder?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 09:27:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100710/ANE/100719996/1254>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/12/report-focus-chief-engineer-leaves-ford-for-yacht-builder/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19549716/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/12/report-focus-chief-engineer-leaves-ford-for-yacht-builder/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><small>2012 Ford Focus - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em></div>
<br />
<img align="right" hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/fordludmannleave2.jpg" />Jens Ludmann, the German engineer in <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/ford">Ford</a>'s European arm who led the development of the S-Max, Mondeo and 2012 <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/focus">Focus</a>, is departing the automaker after a successful 10-year run. Where to? He's leaving the Blue Oval to join the deep blue sea, taking over as CEO of Bavaria Yachtbau, a German builder of sailing and motor yachts.<br />
<br />
While his industry and title will change, the aim of his job won't: turn compelling ideas into profitable products. Having done that with three of Ford's best known vehicles in just ten years, Bavaria Yachtbau could have made a great score, and Ford has a massive gap to fill.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2010-next-gen-ford-focus/">Detroit 2010: Next-Gen Ford Focus</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2010-next-gen-ford-focus/#2607924"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/10_focus2010detroitlive_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2010-next-gen-ford-focus/#2607925"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/11_focus2010detroitlive_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2010-next-gen-ford-focus/#2607914"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/01_focus2010detroitlive_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2010-next-gen-ford-focus/#2607915"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/02_focus2010detroitlive_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2010-next-gen-ford-focus/#2607916"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/03_focus2010detroitlive_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
[Source: <a href="http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100710/ANE/100719996/1254">Automotive News</a> - Sub. Req.]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/12/report-focus-chief-engineer-leaves-ford-for-yacht-builder/">Report: Focus chief engineer leaves Ford for... yacht builder?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 09:27:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100710/ANE/100719996/1254>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/12/report-focus-chief-engineer-leaves-ford-for-yacht-builder/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19549716/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/12/report-focus-chief-engineer-leaves-ford-for-yacht-builder/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>
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