Top Ford execs Anne Stevens, Dave Szczupak quit

DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co.'s top two North American manufacturing executives -- Anne Stevens, COO of the Americas and a key designer of the Way Forward restructuring plan, and Dave Szczupak, head of manufacturing for the Americas -- have quit.

Neither executive is expected to be replaced soon, a Ford spokesman said today.

Manufacturing executives who had reported to Szczupak will now report to Mark Fields, Ford's head of the Americas, the spokesman said. They include Joseph Hinrichs, who heads up Ford's 19 assembly and stamping plants in North America, and Barb Samardzich, head of powertrain operations.

Stevens' and Szczupak's retirements are effective Oct. 1. But both executives are no longer involved with Ford's executive team, the spokesman said.

Stevens, 57, joined Ford in 1990 from Exxon Mobil Corp., starting in the automaker's Plastic Products division. Her career at Ford included a stint in Europe as a plant manager and head of product development for small cars. She returned to the United States in 1999 and in 2001 was put in charge of Ford's assembly and stamping plants in North America.

Szczupak, 51, joined Jaguar in 1985 in the advanced powertrain department. From 1999 to 2001 he was the chief engineer for Ford's powertrain operations. He was put in charge of all assembly, stamping and powertrain plants in North America in 2005.

Previously, Szczupak worked at Cummins Engine Co. Ltd.

You may e-mail Dale Jewett at [email protected]