Ford manufacturing chief Fleming to retire, other execs shift

John Fleming, Ford’s global manufacturing head and labor chief, will retire at the end of the year, the automaker said in a statement detailing a series of leadership changes.In addition to overseeing 66 Ford production facilities, Fleming, 64, was in charge of negotiating the new labor contract with the United Auto Workers union. The contract was narrowly ratified in late November.Fleming is the third top labor negotiator to retire from the Detroit 3 automakers this year. Fiat Chrysler North American labor chief Al Iacobelli and General Motors lead negotiator Rex Blackwell retired in June ahead of UAW negotiations.Fleming has been Ford’s manufacturing and labor head since December 2009 and served in a dual role as chairman and CEO of Ford of Europe from that time until August 2010.“John’s extensive global knowledge and strong leadership have played important roles in our European operations and product quality gains in our manufacturing throughout the world,” Ford Motor Co. CEO Mark Fields said in a statement, also crediting him with labor agreements that produced “strong business results and innovative new products.”Bruce Hettle, Ford’s vice president of North American manufacturing, was named Fleming’s successor. Hettle, 54, joined the automaker in 1986 and has been vice president of North American manufacturing since January 2014. He will begin his new role on Jan. 1.Gary Johnson, 51, will succeed Hettle as North American manufacturing head effective Jan. 1. Johnson has been vice president of manufacturing operations for Asia Pacific since January 2010.Ford also said Joy Falotico was named COO of Ford Motor Credit Co., effective Jan. 1. Falotico, 48, serves as Ford Credit’s executive vice president of marketing, sales, Americas and strategic planning and has been with Ford Credit since 1989. She also was elected as a Ford corporate officer.The automaker said product chief Raj Nair received a title promotion effective Tuesday from group vice president to executive vice president of product development and chief technical officer. Nair, 50, has served in the role since April 2012.“Raj has done an outstanding job leading our team in delivering product excellence with passion,” Fields said.

Ford manufacturing chief Fleming to retire, other execs shift

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