Ford names Farley its first head of global marketing, sales and service

Ford Motor Co. said Jim Farley would become the company's first head of global marketing, sales and service as part of several senior management moves announced today.

Ford also named Volvo Car Corp. CEO Stephen Odell as CEO at Ford of Europe following Ford's pending sale of Volvo to China's Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Ltd.

Farley, 48, whose grandfather worked for Ford in the early days of the automaker's history, joined Ford in November 2007 from Toyota Motor Corp., where he was general manager of the Lexus brand.

Farley had already been head of global marketing for Ford, and the automaker has expanded that role to include sales and service for the first time to enhance its focus on worldwide product development and manufacturing.

Farley takes on the new role on Aug. 1. At that time, he will drop his other current roles as head of operations for Canada, Mexico and South America.

"As we accelerate our profitable growth plan around the world, it is critical that we build a world-class global marketing, sales and service operation," Ford CEO Alan Mulally said in a statement.

"There is no one better to lead this effort than Jim Farley. Jim has been instrumental in building the Ford brand to unprecedented strength in North America."

Ford said Farley will work closely with Derrick Kuzak, Ford's head of global product development, "to further develop Ford's complete family of world class vehicles."

Ford has managed the global downturn and soft vehicle markets in Europe and North America better than most automakers.

It has gained market share in North America, though sales and market share are slipping across Europe with the end of government scrappage progams.

Aided by new products, improved results at Ford Credit, and lower operating costs, Ford earned first-quarter profits of $2.1 billion - a swing of $3.5 billion from the same period in 2009, In the first quarter, all of the automaker's automotive units worldwide were profitable. First-quarter revenues rose $3.7 billion to $28.1 billion.

Other changes

Odell, 55, will succeed John Fleming, 58, who will continue to serve as Ford's head of global manufacturing and labor affairs. Volvo's chief financial officer, Stuart Rowley, will join Odell at Ford of Europe as the unit's new CFO. Rowley, 43, will take over for Bryan Myers, who has served as acting CFO since late 2009. Myers will return to his previous role as Ford of Europe's controller for marketing, sales and service.

Volvo has not revealed who will replace Odell and Rowley, but did announce today that Geely Chairman Li Shufu also will become Volvo chairman and that former Volvo CEO Hans-Olov Olsson will become vice chairman.

All of the changes will take place once the sale of Volvo to Geely is completed. The deal is due to be finalized by Sept. 30, the companies said.

Changes in the Americas

Also, due to Farley's promotion, Ford said it is reorganizing its operations in Canada, Mexico and South America.

Eduardo Serrano, 50, currently president and CEO of Ford of Mexico, will become executive director of Latin America with responsibility for the company's operations in Mexico and South America.

David Mondragon will continue as president of Ford of Canada. Both Serrano and Mondragon will report to Mark Fields, Ford executive vice president and president of the Americas. Those changes also take effect Aug. 1.

Reuters contributed to this report.

DEARBORN, Mich., July 15, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --

* Ford Executive Vice President John Fleming to lead Ford's Global Manufacturing & Labor Affairs operations, effective upon the closing of Ford's sale of Volvo

* Stephen Odell, Ford vice president and CEO of Volvo Cars, is appointed Ford group vice president and Chairman and CEO of Ford of Europe, effective upon the closing of Ford's sale of Volvo

* Ford Group Vice President Jim Farley will take an expanded role as Ford's global leader for Marketing, Sales and Service to support Ford's One Ford plan

* Stuart Rowley, currently chief financial officer of Volvo Cars, is appointed chief financial officer, Ford of Europe, effective upon the closing of Ford's sale of Volvo

* Eduardo Serrano, currently president and CEO of Ford of Mexico, is appointed executive director, Latin America, and will lead Ford's operations in Mexico and South America

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F ) today announced key executive appointments to further sharpen its senior leadership team's focus on the "One Ford" plan and to support the company's growth around the world.

The changes affect Ford's Global Manufacturing & Labor Affairs, Ford of Europe, Global Marketing, Sales and Service, and Latin American operations. The moves include:

* John Fleming, 58, Ford executive vice president currently serving dual roles as Chairman and CEO of Ford of Europe and head of Global Manufacturing and Labor affairs, will lead the company's Global Manufacturing & Labor Affairs operations.

* Stephen Odell, 55, currently CEO of Volvo Cars, is appointed a Ford group vice president and succeeds Fleming as chairman and CEO of Ford of Europe.

* Stuart Rowley, 43, chief financial officer of Volvo, becomes chief financial officer, Ford of Europe.

All three appointments will be effective upon the closing of Ford's sale of Volvo to Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Limited, expected to occur later this quarter.

Jim Farley, 48, currently Ford group vice president, Global Marketing and Canada, Mexico and South America operations, will take an expanded role as Ford's global leader for marketing, sales and service around the world. This marks the first time Ford has a single global leader for marketing, sales and service. The move is effective Aug. 1.

In parallel, Ford is reorganizing its operations in Canada, Mexico and South America. Effective Aug. 1, Eduardo Serrano, 50, currently president and CEO of Ford of Mexico, is appointed executive director, Latin America, with responsibility for the company's operations in Mexico and South America. David Mondragon will continue as president, Ford of Canada. Both Serrano and Mondragon will report to Mark Fields, Ford executive vice president and president of the Americas.

"These moves allow us to strengthen our global team as we accelerate our One Ford plan and continue to profitably grow serving our customers around the world," said Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally.

Fleming to lead Global Manufacturing and Labor Affairs

Fleming was named CEO of Ford of Europe in 2005 and added the title of chairman in October 2008. He took on the added responsibilities as Ford's head of Global Manufacturing and Labor Affairs in December 2009.

Fleming will be based in Dearborn, Mich., and will oversee Ford's Global Manufacturing and Labor Affairs operations at a critical time for new global product introductions around the world, rapid expansion in growth markets and labor negotiations in several global markets that are critical to the company's competitiveness.

"During the past five years, John's strong leadership has been critical to Ford of Europe's continued product and financial resurgence," Mulally said. "As a world-class manufacturing executive, he will play an equally vital role as we drive toward industry leadership in efficient, high quality manufacturing worldwide and work with our labor unions to remain fully competitive with the best in the world."

Fleming joined Ford in 1967 in manufacturing. He oversees the operations of 80 assembly, stamping and powertrain plants around the world and also is responsible for the company's worldwide engineering support for stamping, vehicle and powertrain manufacturing.

Odell to lead Ford of Europe

Odell takes over as chairman and CEO of Ford of Europe after leading a significant restructuring and successful financial turnaround at Volvo Cars, where he has been president since October 2008. During that period, he also shepherded the company through an extremely complex sale process that required intense focus on sustaining momentum during an uncertain time.

Prior to leading Volvo, Odell served as vice president and chief operating officer, Ford of Europe and, before that, vice president of Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe, and senior managing executive officer, marketing, sales and customer services, Mazda Motor Corporation. He joined Ford of Britain in 1980 as a graduate trainee.

"Stephen did an outstanding job leading Volvo back to profitability and has a strong record of delivering results for Ford of Europe," Mulally said. "We are thrilled that he will be returning to lead Ford of Europe to build upon the tremendous foundation of great products and profitable growth we have in the region."

Rowley, currently chief financial officer of Volvo, becomes chief financial officer, Ford of Europe, after the sale of Volvo closes. Concurrently, Bryan Myers, who has served as acting chief financial officer, Ford of Europe, since the end of 2009, will return to his previous role as controller, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe.

Farley to lead Global Marketing, Sales and Service

Farley has led Ford's Global Marketing operations since he joined the company in November 2007. In September 2009, Ford's operations in Canada, Mexico and South America were added to his responsibilities and today the regions are well positioned for continued growth.

Under Farley's leadership, Ford is creating a strengthened Global Marketing, Sales and Service operation to complement its Global Product Development, Global Manufacturing and Global Purchasing operations, as the company moves to further improve its brands image globally and launches an unprecedented number of vehicles. Farley will work closely with Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development, to further develop Ford's complete family of world class vehicles that customers want and value.

"As we accelerate our profitable growth plan around the world, it is critical that we build a world-class global marketing, sales and service operation. There is no one better to lead this effort than Jim Farley," Mulally said. "Jim has been instrumental in building the Ford brand to unprecedented strength in North America, and we are fortunate to have his experience and expertise to accelerate this progress globally."