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Ford Motor veteran John Sullivan will be the new vehicle line director for the company's global B-segment car vehicles.

Sullivan will lead development of the automaker's Fiesta and Ka models as well as future small car programs, effective October 1.

The 56-year-old Australian will succeed Marin Burela, who will become CEO of Ford Australia.

Currently, Sullivan is director of product development for Ford's Asia Pacific and Africa region based in Bangkok, Thailand.

In his new role he will be based at Ford's European technical center near Cologne, Germany.

Before he was posted to Bangkok, Sullivan worked as technical director, international operations for Ford, Jaguar and Volvo at the company's technical center in Dunton, near London, England.

He also was chief engineer for Ford of Europe from 1998 to 2005, where he was responsible for the body and safety engineering systems of all Ford vehicles. Sullivan joined Ford in 1978.

Burela, 47 and also a native of Australia, will relocate to Melbourne, Australia. Burela joined Ford Australia 25 years ago as an engineering graduate.

He has worked in different senior manufacturing, sales and marketing, and product development roles.