New Ford Credit COO has wide global experience

When Bernard Silverstone steps into the role of COO at Ford Motor Credit Co. on Jan. 1, he'll bring experience not only in finance but in sales, marketing and global operations as well.

Silverstone, 56, is currently Ford Credit's president of marketing and sales. But in his 32 years at the company, starting at Ford Credit Britain, he has held a variety staff, operations and leadership positions in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia as well as having regional responsibilities for European and Asia Pacific operations. At one time he was chairman of Ford Credit Europe.

In the company's newly created COO spot, Silverstone will be responsible for leading Ford Credit's operations in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Africa, and Latin America, the company says. He also will head marketing, sales and brand, business center operations, quality and process management and insurance operations.

Silverstone also will become a Ford corporate officer.

The company created the COO post as a result of Ford Credit's growing global operations, spokeswoman Margaret Mellott said.

Two other Ford Credit managers also are getting new positions effective Jan. 1, Mellott said last week.

• Joy Falotico will take on the newly created role of executive vice president of Ford Credit North America.
• Charles Bilyeu, currently vice president of quality and process management, will take over Falotico's current job of vice president of U.S. sales operations.