Ford shuffles execs in North American sales unit

DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co. is cutting a vice president position and reassigning executives in its North American sales and marketing organization. Al Giombetti will go from corporate vice president and president of Ford and Lincoln Mercury to executive director of marketing and sales for the Ford customer service division. He will no longer be a company officer, and the job of Ford and Lincoln Mercury president is being eliminated, Ford spokesman Jim Cain said.In his new job, Giombetti will report to Darryl Hazel, a corporate senior vice president and president of the customer service division. That change and several others will be effective Jan. 1. The other changes are: Randy Ortiz, who had headed up sales for the customer service division, will become general manager of Ford and Lincoln Mercury sales. He will report to Cisco Codina, group vice president of North American marketing, sales and service. Barry Engle becomes general manager of Ford-brand marketing, reporting to Codina. Until last month, Engle had been president of Ford Mercosul and Ford of Brazil. Mark Fields, head of the Americas, tapped Engle to return to Dearborn to aid in the Way Forward restructuring plan. Mike Richards continues as general manager of Lincoln Mercury marketing. He now reports to Codina. John Felice will become director of the North American fleet business. He had been general marketing manager for the Ford brand since January. Kevin Koswick will become chairman of the dealer policy board. He had been general sales manager for Ford and Lincoln MercuryThe changes result from broader cutbacks of the Way Forward restructuring plan, Ford says. The automaker is trimming one-third of its North American salaried work force. The reorganization also addresses last month's departure of Marty Collins, who had been executive director of Ford and Lincoln Mercury marketing.Said Cain: "The goal is clear lines of authority, expanded range and responsibility, faster decision-making, all to meet our sales and market-share goals with the best possible service to dealers."You may e-mail Amy Wilson at awilson@crain.com

Ford shuffles execs in North American sales unit

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