02-22-07: Recent steward of the Mustang nameplate Hau Thai-Tang has been promoted to a new job in Ford’s South American division as Director of Product Development. His replacement here in the States effective March 1st, as Director of Advanced Product Creation and Special Vehicle Team will be Hermann Salenbach.
The news of course comes as a surprise for many Mustang enthusiasts who have known for some time the contribution that Thai-Tang has had to the current S-197 Mustang program. His leadership and skill in seeing the current Mustang and SVT products to fruition has been well documented in the industry and the press alike. He has been a central figure.
His new job promotion has left many Mustang enthusiasts wondering who will fill his shoes, and the answer is that a verteran engineer with experience both at Ford and BMW will transition into his position. Hermann Salenbach has been with Ford since the acquisition of Land Rover. His engineering experience spans from the high end German manufacturer of luxury cars to working with Hau Thai Tang at SVT.
He will have his hands full as the next generation 2010 Mustang is currently in the wings getting its design and engineering tested. A new SVT truck is being developed as well.
Ford Motor Company Bio :
Hermann Salenbauch is Director of Ford's Advanced Product Creation and Special Vehicle Team. He leads the design and development of Ford's new product programs and also has responsibility for the SVT high performance group. Prior to this appointment, Salenbauch served as Director of Advanced Product Creation, working on the Ford Shelby Cobra concept.
Salenbauch came to Ford in February 2001 as engineering director, Lifestyle/Youth Vehicles, focusing on Windstar, Focus, Mustang and Thunderbird. Before joining Ford, he worked at BMW for 18 years in computer-aided engineering and various body engineering positions, culminating as vehicle programs director for the Lower and Medium Cars at Rover, a BMW subsidiary.
Originally from Germany, Hermann graduated from Stuttgart University in 1982 with a master's degree in Aeronautical Engineering. He went on to earn an MBA from Munich University in 1987.
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