Ford Strengthens Leadership Team
DEARBORN/USA (ots)
- Allan Gilmour Appointed Vice Chairman and Chief Financial
Officer
- Martin Inglis Appointed Group Vice President of Business
Strategy
- David Thursfield Appointed Group Vice President of International
Operations and Global PurchasingFord Motor Company announced today that Allan Gilmour, former vice chairman of Ford Motor Company, will rejoin the automaker as vice chairman and chief financial officer effective immediately. This move is one of a series of management changes designed to strengthen the financial and operational leadership of the company.
Martin Inglis, former group vice president and chief financial officer, is appointed group vice president of Business Strategy, effective immediately. Inglis has responsibility for business strategy, mergers and acquisitions, and Hertz.
Also announced today, David Thursfield, currently Ford Motor Company group vice president and chairman, president and chief executive officer of Ford of Europe, becomes group vice president of International Operations and Global Purchasing, effective Aug. 1. He succeeds Carlos Mazzorin who becomes Senior Advisor to the Office of the Chairman and Chief Executive (OCCE).
Thursfield continues his role as chairman and chief executive officer, Ford of Europe. Ford of Europe, Global Purchasing, South American Operations and Asia Pacific Operations now will report to him.
Martin Leach is appointed president and chief operating officer, Ford of Europe. Derrick Kuzak has been elected a Ford Motor Company vice president and will succeed Leach as vice president of Product Development, Ford of Europe. These appointments also are effective Aug. 1.
"The management changes announced today strengthen our company in several key areas by making the best use of the individual talent available to us," said Bill Ford, chairman and chief executive officer. "As demanding and complicated as our business is, you can never have too much talent, especially when it is focused on a common goal and is working together as our team is.
"Allan Gilmour brings a wealth of knowledge to our financial analysis and reporting functions. He served us before during hard times and has the critical knowledge needed to help us implement our revitalization plan. This, in turn, frees up Martin Inglis, who played a key role in developing the revitalization plan and our highly successful convertible preferred securities offering, to help the company look beyond the current business realities and plan for the future."
"There is no business in the world more exciting and challenging than the automotive business," said Gilmour. "And there is no company that I would rather be a part of than Ford Motor Company. I look forward to my new role and to helping Bill, Nick (Scheele) and Carl (Reichardt) make the revitalization plan and the company a great success."
"On the operations front, David Thursfield has proven his ability to execute time and time again," said Bill Ford. "You only have to look at the success of the European Turnaround Strategy to understand the value he brings to this new role. And that success will continue. Martin Leach and Derrick Kuzak will further the momentum in Europe with David overseeing their efforts in his new role.
"Carlos Mazzorin has extensive experience in global operations and purchasing. This role will allow us to tap into that invaluable knowledge base to assist the OCCE with implementation of the Ford Revitalization Plan."
Gilmour retired from the company in 1995 after serving as vice chairman and as a member of the Office of the Chief Executive and the company's Board of Directors. He also held positions as president of the Ford Automotive Group, chief financial officer, controller, and president of Ford Motor Credit Company during his 34-year career. Currently, Gilmour owns a Ford and Chrysler dealership and serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Prudential Financial, DTE Energy, Whirlpool Corporation and Dow Chemical.
Inglis was named group vice president and chief financial officer Aug. 1, 2001. Previously, he was vice president, Ford North America. Inglis joined the company in 1971 as a graduate trainee and has held many positions since, including director of Finance for Car Product Development, director of International Automotive Business Strategy and Latin American Automotive Operations, executive director of Product Strategy Office for Product Development, and vice president of Product and Business Strategy. Inglis holds a bachelors degree in business economics from Strathclyde University in Glasgow, Scotland.
Thursfield was previously chairman, president and chief executive officer of Ford of Europe, a position he assumed Aug. 1, 2001. He was appointed a group vice president on Nov. 7, 2001. Prior to this, he held positions as vice president, Vehicle Operations for both Ford Automotive Operations in North America and Australia, and in Germany for Ford's European and South American operations. Thursfield joined Ford in 1979 as plant manager of the Broadmeadows Car Assembly Plant in Australia. He has degrees in product engineering and industrial psychology from Aston University in Birmingham, England and Brunel University in London respectively.
Mazzorin was previously group vice president of Asia Pacific Operations, South American Operations and Global Purchasing, a position he assumed in November 2001. Prior to that, Mazzorin was group vice president of South American Operations and Global Purchasing. During his 30-year career, Mazzorin has held a variety of positions in purchasing and procurement, including executive director of Production Purchasing for North American Automotive Operations, vice president of Production Purchasing and vice president of Purchasing. Mazzorin joined the company in 1972 as a procurement planning analyst. He has a bachelor of science and master of business administration degree from the University of Buenos Aires.
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