Media beat up. GM supposedly only lease the jets, they don't own them, and they have recently cut the number from 5 to 3.
As for exec salaries, Ford wanted the best in Mullaly to help get them out of trouble, to get the best you need to pay the best, and he's done a great job so far. Before the economic crises he had steered the company back into the black for a quarter before everything hit the fan, but he prepared for it by selling off assets a while ago for these situations. He spent money on product development to increase sales, invested in making small cars in the US in previously truck and SUV plants (Fiesta goes on sale in the US soon). He's made some smart moves.
2nd in charge Bill Ford, from what I can remember doesn't even get paid money, he just takes stock, probably not a smart move now cause its worth bugger all but he doesn't need the money cause his family owns a controlling interest in the company, he's already loaded. He does this out of obligation to his families company.
I don't agree with executive bonuses for CEO's of companies who are going down the toilet, they should only recieve bonuses as a reward for making them successful. Banking and finance CEO's who paid themselves bonuses out of the US governments bailout money should have all their money stipped from them and used to cover their companies losses.
Executive bonuses haven't been paid by Ford for a few years now, all the execs agreed to it to help them out. So its not like Ford aren't trying to save money where they can.
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