FDM Group Regulatory News (FDM)

17 Mar 2006 07:00

Ford Motor Co16 March 2006 Contact: Tom Hoyt (313) 322-1524 thoyt@ford.com FORD MOTOR COMPANY ALIGNS QUALITY WITH OTHER CORE BUSINESS OPERATIONS • Changes announced today will allow Ford to streamline its operations and more directly align its quality processes with other core operational functions. • Bennie Fowler, 49, is appointed the Company's vice president, Global Quality and Advanced and Manufacturing Engineering, The Americas, effective April 1. • Deborah S. Coleman, 53, is named executive director, Quality, The Americas, effective April 1. DEARBORN, Mich., March 16 - Ford Motor Company today announced further changesin its corporate officer structure that will allow the Company to continuestreamlining its operations, while more fully aligning its quality processes anddisciplines with its core manufacturing and engineering functions. Bennie Fowler, Ford Motor Company vice president, Advanced ManufacturingEngineering, The Americas, is appointed vice president, Global Quality andAdvanced and Manufacturing Engineering, The Americas, effective April 1. He willcontinue to report to Dave Szczupak, Ford's group vice president, Manufacturing,The Americas, and in leading Global Quality, he will report to Jim Padilla, FordMotor Company president and chief operating officer. In his expanded role, Fowler will be responsible for driving the qualityprocesses and discipline, which will enable the Company to deliver superiorquality in the design and manufacture of all Ford cars, trucks and componentsworldwide. He also will maintain his current responsibility for developingproduct programs and advanced manufacturing processes and ensuring alignmentbetween the Company's product creation and manufacturing operations. Fowler joined Ford as a superintendent at St. Thomas Assembly Plant in 1990, andhas held a variety of leadership positions since, including vehicle linedirector for Ford's F-Series Super Duty vehicle lineup, plant manager of WayneStamping and Assembly, executive director for North America Product Developmentand chief operating officer for Jaguar and Land Rover. "Combining Global Quality with Bennie's existing responsibilities demonstratesthe priority that the Company is placing on quality," said Padilla. "And,Bennie's track record for leadership in these areas is admirable. He wasresponsible for driving significant improvements in Jaguar quality during thethree years he led that team, and all expectations are that in his new role, hewill deliver similar improvements for all of our brands around the world." Deborah Coleman, previously Ford Motor Company vice president, Global Quality,is named executive director, Quality, The Americas, effective April 1. In thisrole, Coleman will have responsibility for setting and delivering qualityobjectives, and for driving quality processes throughout The Americasorganization. She will report operationally to Anne Stevens, executive vicepresident, Ford Motor Company, and chief operating officer, The Americas. Shewill report functionally to Bennie Fowler. "Deborah is known for making things happen, as she has been credited with anumber of business improvements occurring directly under her leadership," saidStevens. "Improving quality is one of the priorities for The Americas, andDeborah's drive, talent and breadth of knowledge of the business and theindustry all make her the perfect fit for this new position. We welcome her tothe team." Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn,Mich., manufactures and distributes automobiles in 200 markets across sixcontinents. With about 300,000 employees worldwide, the company's core andaffiliated automotive brands include Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover,Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo. Its automotive-related service includes FordMotor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, pleasevisit www.fordvehicles.com. Go to http://media.ford.com for news releases and high-resolution photographs. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange