Deals
Bill Ford Struggles to Rescue His Family's Automaking Empire
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The anointment of William Clay Ford Jr. as head of Ford Motor Co., the world's No. 2 automaker, was set in motion after the death of his uncle Henry Ford II in 1987.
As friends and relatives gathered in Detroit for the memorial service, former Ford CEO and board member Philip Caldwell approached the young Ford, then just 30. Caldwell asked Ford on behalf of the board if he wanted to become custodian of his family's interests and lead the company someday.