FORD APPOINTS NEW COMPANY DIRECTOR IN EUROPE
Ford Motor Company recently announced that the Board of Directors has elected four new vice presidents effective June 1 as the company continues to grow and strengthen its operations in Asia Pacific and Europe.
In Europe, Jeff Wood, 52, Ford director of manufacturing for North America Vehicle Assembly Operations, has been elected a company officer and appointed vice president of Manufacturing, Ford of Europe, effective June 1. Wood replaces Mike Flewitt who has elected to leave the company to pursue other career interests.
"Today's appointments speak both to the wealth of talent we have within Ford and our commitment to deliver our global plan for great products, a strong business and contributions to a better world," said Bill Ford, Ford's executive chairman. "We are fortunate to have such a capable global leadership team to implement and achieve the full potential of our plan."
In his new role, Wood will assume direct responsibility for the company's manufacturing operations in Europe. He will report to Stephen Odell, chairman and CEO, Ford of Europe, and John Fleming, executive vice president, Global Manufacturing and Labor Affairs.
Since joining Ford as a plant engineering supervisor at Ford's Norfolk Assembly Plant in 1988, Wood has held a variety of leadership positions within Ford Manufacturing including serving as the director for Global Manufacturing Quality, plant manager of Ford's Michigan Truck Plant, and director of manufacturing for Truck Operations. Wood also served as product development director for the Electronics Division as well as vehicle line director for D platform vehicles. He was appointed to his current role in 2008. Wood holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Old Dominion University in Virginia.
"Jeff, [and other appointees] Gary, Kumar and Marin play key roles in Ford's commitment to deliver world-class products globally," said Alan Mulally, Ford's president and CEO. "Today is another important step to delivering aggressive growth in Asia as well as an exciting, profitably-growing company for the good of all of our stakeholders."