Alan Mulally's decision to stay as CEO of Ford Motor and officially end speculation that he will become the next CEO of Microsoft sets Ford and its investors up for what could be a big 2014.
Skeptics will scoff and say Mulally's decision changes nothing.
They're wrong.
(Read more: Mulally ends Microsoft speculation, stays at Ford)
Mulally's decision should lift the cloud of uncertainty that's been holding back shares of Ford in recent months. Sure, Mulally is in his last year at Ford, but it could be a huge one.
Ford Motor CEO Alan MulallyAdam Jeffery | CNBC
* Slew of New Models
This year, Ford is rolling out 23 all-new models around the world. That's a new one year record the automaker.
The surge in new models will cut into profits this year, but will also set the stage for increasing sales in 2015, especially in the U.S. and China.
* Surging Sales in China
Don't look now, but China is rapidly becoming the second most important market in the world for Ford. Last year, Ford sold 935,813 vehicles in China.
