From AFX News Limited
DETROIT — Ford Motor Co. said Thursday it is realigning its management structure in a bid to focus more on the automaker’s worldwide business, while better leveraging its global assets and capabilities.
Ford’s three automotive business unit leaders will report directly to Chief Executive Alan Mulally under the new structure: Mark Fields, of Ford of the Americas; Lewis Booth, of Ford of Europe and the Premier Automotive Group; and John Parker, of Ford of Asia Pacific and Africa, and Mazda.
Derrick Kuzak, currently group vice president of product development for the Americas, will lead global product development and report to Mulally. He also will continue to be responsible for Americas product development.
"An integrated, global product development team supporting our automotive business units will enable us to make the best use of our global assets and capabilities and accelerate development of the new vehicles our customers prefer, and do so more efficiently," Mulally said in a written statement.
"This new leadership will enable us to work together more effectively as one Ford team to continuously improve the quality, productivity and speed of our product development process."
Others that will report to Mulally include: Tony Brown, purchasing; Bennie Fowler, quality and advanced manufacturing engineering; Nick Smither, information technology; and Richard Parry-Jones, chief technical officer.
Ford shares rose 23 cents, or 3.3 percent, to close at $7.11 on the New York Stock Exchange.
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