Ford Announces Executive Retirements, Makes Key Management Changes To Support One Ford Plan

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Ford Motor Company recently announced the retirements of two company officers as well as a series of executive appointments that will further strengthen Ford's global management team in support of the company's One Ford plan.

Gerhard Schmidt, Ford's Chief Technical Officer and Vice President, Research & Advanced Engineering, will retire February 1, after 10 years with the company.

Schmidt, 64, a former executive with BMW AG, has led Ford's worldwide research organization based in Dearborn, Michigan and Aachen, Germany. Ford's Research and Advanced Engineering staff of scientists, engineers, and technicians is dedicated to supporting the company as a leader in providing safe, sustainable, and affordable mobility through innovation in science and technology.

Succeeding Schmidt as Chief Technical Officer and Vice President, Research & Advanced Engineering will be Paul Mascarenas, 49, currently Ford's Vice President, Engineering. He will report to Derrick Kuzak, Group Vice President, Global Product Development.

Ford also announced that Ingvar Sviggum, Vice President, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe, will retire January 1. Sviggum, 65, was appointed Vice President, Marketing, Sales and Service for Ford of Europe in April 2008. Prior to that, Sviggum was Vice President, European Sales Operations for Ford of Europe. He joined Ford Norway in 1963 as a trainee.

Sviggum will be succeeded by Roelant de Waard, 48, currently Vice President, Sales, Ford of Europe. De Waard also is appointed as an Officer of Ford Motor Company. He will report to Stephen Odell, Ford Group Vice President and Chairman and CEO of Ford of Europe, and Jim Farley, Group Vice President, Global Marketing, Sales and Service.

Ford also announced several key executive appointments in its Global Product Development organization, reporting to Kuzak. Effective Jan. 1:

• Barb Samardzich, 52, Vice President, Powertrain Engineering, is appointed Vice President, Global Product Programs. Concurrently, Hau Thai-Tang, 44, Director, Product Development, Ford South America Operations, is appointed Executive Director, Global Product Programs.
  
• Joe Bakaj, 48, Vice President, Global Product Programs and Product Development, Ford of Europe, is appointed Vice President, Powertrain Engineering.
  
• Raj Nair, 45, Vice President, Operations, Ford Asia Pacific and Africa, is elected an officer of the company and appointed Vice President, Engineering.
  
• Frank Davis, 49, Executive Director, North America Product Programs, is appointed Vice President, Product Development, Ford of Europe. Davis will report to both Odell and Kuzak.
  
• Matt O'Leary, 55, Director, Corporate Strategy, is appointed Director, Product Development, Ford South America Operations, replacing Hau Thai-Tang. O'Leary will report to Kuzak and Eduardo Serrano, Executive Director, Latin America.