How Does it Feel to Live Like Mark Fields?

Mark Fields, the president for the Americas of the Ford Motor Co., is one of the portals that the automaker is leaning on right now. At 45, Fields is one of the lucky few to make it to the industry’s pedestal at a young age. This is why some individuals could not help but wonder about life and what it feels to be living like Mark Fields. Some say its pure plush with all that champagne and caviar, deluxe whims and more. But come to think of it, life has never been a bed of roses.

Fields was earlier criticized for having costly weekly flights on Ford’s corporate jet from Detroit to his home in Delray Beach, Florida - this is why he lost his jet perks. Each trip is estimated to cost between $50,000 and $70,000 - more than just a considerable sum especially for Ford’s rank and file employees. After losing privilege, Fields could only say: "Now I know how Britney feels."

It is not easy to step on Fields’ shoes - much more is to live like him. Oh, sure, there is the $1 million retention bonus, overwhelmingly rewarding salary and an estate on the Intracoastal Waterway but lately, it is not that pleasant as it used to be.

Ford, as everybody knows, is ailing and needed an ideal medication to assuage its condition. Fields, on the other hand, is always on the hot seat. Rotund roving reporters chase him the way paparazzis hound Angelina Jolie and her adorable little tot. Ford is on the limelight not because it is doing great but on the contrary. The automaker is relying on the brilliant ideas of Alan Mullaly, its CEO, Fields and other executives. The company cannot deny the fact that Fields is one of its aces.

It seems that Airaid cold air intake is not blowing fair airflow in favor of Fields. The latter gave up and traded his jet perks for free first-class commercial flights. Ford revealed that the privilege is given to Mullaly for his personal jaunts. A day after said revelation, Ford announced declining sales report. Which ever of the two is the most hurting - only Fields knows.

Fields was born in Brooklyn, New York but grew up in grew up in Paramus, New Jersey. He finished his economic degree from Rutgers University and was employed by IBM prior to completing an MBA at Harvard Graduate School of Business. In 1989 at the age of 38, he transferred to Ford. Fields administered the Mazda Motor Corporation in 1998. He was the youngest person ever to run a major Japanese company.

In 2002, Fields became the chairman of the Premier Automotive Group - the company’s luxury unit. The said unit includes Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo Cars. After three years, he returned to the United States to manage Ford’s Americas division. Now, he is one of the top executives of the company. It may sound good but the ride is definitely bumpy in there.

Fields was quoted saying, “I’m not a magician. I’m a practitioner. We’re trying to give people a good dose of optimism about why everybody should go on the journey with us.”