Source: www.thecarconnection.com 's daily edition-
Daily Edition: Sep. 9, 2005-
Ford Shuffles Execs; Fields to Americas
Ford Motor Co. is bringing Mark Fields home, the 44-year-old executive will report to Ford World Headquarters, effective October 1st, as the new president of the automaker's Americas business unit. Fields had been living in London, where he served double duty as executive vice president of both Ford of Europe and the Premier Automotive Group.
The overseas assignment provided training under fire for Fields, who joined Ford in 1989. Both Ford of Europe and the PAG were in the midst of a major restructuring, including plant and personnel cuts. With recovery slow, Fields had to dig deeper, especially at PAG, among other things ordering the closure of one of Jaguar's three assembly plants. With the turnaround program, in his words, "starting to gain traction," the Harvard Business School graduate described the planned reassignment to Michigan as "bittersweet."
It is likely also to prove quite challenging. In Dearborn, Fields will run the automaker's largest - and arguably most troubled - business unit. With the Americas operations falling well short of the forecasts made during a previous restructuring, company officials have acknowledged more deep cuts are under discussion. Asked what he might need to do to turn things around, Fields responded with caution. "It's still way too early for me to make any comments," he said, noting it will be some weeks before his return Stateside. But Fields quickly added that "If you look at my track record, I tend to go into some pretty challenging situations."
Prior to his European assignment, The New Jersey-bred executive had served as president and CEO of another troubled Ford brand, it's Japanese affiliate, Mazda Motor Co. Fields has been credited with many of the changes that have put the Hiroshima-based automaker on the road to recovery.
Even before Mazda, Fields had worked with Ford's core, U.S. brands, something he said will help in the new job. "The advantage I've had has been to work in every Ford brand, which has given me knowledge of their people, products and processes, and which will help me get up to speed" quickly.
In his new position, Fields will succeed Greg Smith, who becomes Ford Motor Co Vice Chairman. Lewis Booth, who has been serving as chairman and CEO of Ford of Europe, now assumes Fields' duties at the PAG. John Fleming, who was president of Ford of Europe, adds CEO to his title. Meanwhile, Mark Schultz has been appointed president of International Operations, and Hans-Olov Olsson, currently president of Volvo Cars, becomes Ford's new chief marketing officer. Olsson will maintain ties to Volvo as the Swedish company's non-executive chairman.-Paul A. Eisenstein
Daily Edition: Sep. 9, 2005-
Ford Shuffles Execs; Fields to Americas
Ford Motor Co. is bringing Mark Fields home, the 44-year-old executive will report to Ford World Headquarters, effective October 1st, as the new president of the automaker's Americas business unit. Fields had been living in London, where he served double duty as executive vice president of both Ford of Europe and the Premier Automotive Group.
The overseas assignment provided training under fire for Fields, who joined Ford in 1989. Both Ford of Europe and the PAG were in the midst of a major restructuring, including plant and personnel cuts. With recovery slow, Fields had to dig deeper, especially at PAG, among other things ordering the closure of one of Jaguar's three assembly plants. With the turnaround program, in his words, "starting to gain traction," the Harvard Business School graduate described the planned reassignment to Michigan as "bittersweet."
It is likely also to prove quite challenging. In Dearborn, Fields will run the automaker's largest - and arguably most troubled - business unit. With the Americas operations falling well short of the forecasts made during a previous restructuring, company officials have acknowledged more deep cuts are under discussion. Asked what he might need to do to turn things around, Fields responded with caution. "It's still way too early for me to make any comments," he said, noting it will be some weeks before his return Stateside. But Fields quickly added that "If you look at my track record, I tend to go into some pretty challenging situations."
Prior to his European assignment, The New Jersey-bred executive had served as president and CEO of another troubled Ford brand, it's Japanese affiliate, Mazda Motor Co. Fields has been credited with many of the changes that have put the Hiroshima-based automaker on the road to recovery.
Even before Mazda, Fields had worked with Ford's core, U.S. brands, something he said will help in the new job. "The advantage I've had has been to work in every Ford brand, which has given me knowledge of their people, products and processes, and which will help me get up to speed" quickly.
In his new position, Fields will succeed Greg Smith, who becomes Ford Motor Co Vice Chairman. Lewis Booth, who has been serving as chairman and CEO of Ford of Europe, now assumes Fields' duties at the PAG. John Fleming, who was president of Ford of Europe, adds CEO to his title. Meanwhile, Mark Schultz has been appointed president of International Operations, and Hans-Olov Olsson, currently president of Volvo Cars, becomes Ford's new chief marketing officer. Olsson will maintain ties to Volvo as the Swedish company's non-executive chairman.-Paul A. Eisenstein