Mazda's O'Sullivan Named Auto Exec of the Year

Mazda's O'Sullivan(select to view enlarged photo)

Photo provided by Automotive Executive of the Year staff

By Steve Purdy
TheAutoChannel.com
Detroit Bureau

Detroit, May 6, 2009 - The ornate ballroom of the famed Detroit Athletic Club was packed with well-wishers today as the prestigious Automotive Executive of the Year Award was presented to Jim O’Sullivan, Mazda’s popular and respected president and CEO of North American Operations. He has been in that role since April of 2003 making him one of the longest serving chief executives in the business.

Born, raised and educated in Detroit, O’Sullivan joined Ford Motor Company in 1976 rising through the ranks in sales and marketing positions before being tapped for the leadership of Mazda NAO. From the podium he professed a continuing affinity for, and confidence in, the Detroit area and its automotive businesses.

Also from the podium O’Sullivan spoke confidently about not only Mazda’s future, but the future of the industry as well. We’ve certainly heard lots of cheerleading from industry officials during this dismal time, but somehow it seemed to have more credence coming from the humble, gracious Mr. O’Sullivan. Unlike many who reach such business heights he does not seem to have much of an ego – instead passing credit for accomplishments around to his family (many in attendance), colleagues and others. When asked how he keeps his staff motivated in these rough times he insists that he just “get[s] out of their way.”

During an extensive Q&A session after his brief speech, O’Sullivan:

1. expressed confidence that the supplier base will survive and come out the other end healthier
2. predicted that the Ford/Mazda partnership would remain strong
3. insisted that Mazda’s R& D and design activities have not been reduces as they anticipate future products
4. described the cyclical auto business as “like a marathon that never ends, not like a 100-yard dash”
5. supported the concept of government subsidy for scrappage programs to stimulate as much as 1-million new car sales
6. opined that the next five years in the auto business will be as interesting to watch as the last 100 years.

Two things stood out for me at the award event; first, the overwhelming good will permeating the room, exemplified by no fewer than three standing ovations; and second, the quickness of his responses to the many questions reflected his apparent confidence and comfort in his position.

There is no shortage of professed confidence from any number of sources within the industry. We hear that so regularly that it is hard to take it all seriously sometimes, in the face of often daily bad news.

But I must admit that I felt significantly more upbeat after listening to Jim O’Sullivan offer his views.