It was bound to happen. As soon as Kirk Kerkorian buys up some stock in a company, a supernatural process occurs that transfers a priori knowledge of that company's industry and what changes that company should make.
From the Detroit Free Press:
Stockholders are entitled to their opinions and significant stockholders do gain the attention of boards of directors. Regardless, any actions regarding brands and models will not be a result of Kerkorian and York's meddling. What is expressed by York is simply a manifestation of what sharks do: rip apart their prey.Less than a week after stressing that billionaire Kirk Kerkorian's Tracinda Corp. would remain a passive investor in Ford Motor Co., a top adviser for the casino mogul, Jerry York, is already recommending changes for the Dearborn automaker.
In an interview with the trade magazine Automotive News, York said he thinks Ford should sell the company's Swedish Volvo brand, which lost $151 million through March, as well as the Mercury brand, which has been languishing for decades. U.S. sales of Mercury have fallen from 528,033 to 168,422 last year....
While he said Mulally did not tell him of his plans, York told the magazine: "I think you'll see that he'll put Volvo on the market within the next year and a half."