RE: Red Flags Everywhere9 Jan 2022 13:28
I don't know if 'Strider' from the FT comments section is on here, but I think this comment on Friday's FT article is a pretty succinct overview of the situation right now.....
"I feel for Mr Moers. Finally we have a CEO with the aggression and the understanding and vision needed to save Aston Martin. I'm right behind him on destocking the dealers, increasing option spend, pushing up average sale prices and creating more derivatives of each model: all things that other manufacturers discovered years ago but wafted past Andy Palmer's leather-lined dream world. He also understands the need for bought in powertrain (and electrification) technologies, potentially expanding out to other areas like ADAS and E/E architectures and he has a world-class vision for digitalisation of the customer relationship journey. But - to deliver this strategy he has to fight three battles. First, there is the Palmer-era leadership team, which is probably the one that briefed Jim Holder against Mr Moers for today's Autocar article. It's right that they should be put under pressure to perform or leave. I've worked with some of them and wouldn't have invested in the business if they were allowed to continue drifting along living on hope and debt. Second, the company he took over was in a real mess, financially and in product strategy. The debt is unbelievable and the product just doesn't cut it. Solving the latter in the face of the former is a big challenge. Then third, to add the icing on his layer cake of challenges, he has Mr Stroll looking down on him from on high. I understand that the F1 agreement was part of the deal to get Stroll's money and support, but it cuts off Aston's ability to monetise it's brand in F1 (all the money goes to Mr Stroll's company, as well as fees from AM - very cheeky) and it comes with Mr Stroll's insistence that AM changes course from aspirational Sports / GT, the goal of those who have been through the 911 ladder and want something more exclusive (a market Aston Martin should own), to facing head-to-head with Ferrari in one of the most hotly contested high-end vehicle sectors. It's crazy. Tobias Moers is the best man for the job, but is it a job he will want for much longer?"
Good to see there are other investors in AML who are honest in appraisal of the business and happy to share/discuss it. Compare that to the nonsense posters on here and I know which camp I would rather be in.
Filtered another couple of them, so if I don't respond to their nonsense you know why. They bring nothing of any value to anything.
Sign In
Follow the stocks
