FDM Group Regulatory News (FDM)

13 Dec 2007 16:49

Ford Motor Co13 December 2007 Contact: Anne Marie Gattari Mark Truby 313.323.7809 313.323.0539 313.587.9256 (cell) 313.663.6887 (cell) agattari@ford.com mtruby@ford.com FORD NAMES JOE HINRICHS GROUP VICE PRESIDENT, GLOBAL MANUFACTURING DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 13, 2007 - Ford Motor Company President and CEO AlanMulally today announced that Joe Hinrichs has been named group vice president,Global Manufacturing. The appointment is effective Jan. 1, 2008. Hinrichs, currently vice president of North America Manufacturing, will lead theworldwide integration of the company's manufacturing operations and itsengineering support for vehicle, powertrain and stamping. In his new role,Hinrichs, 40, will drive alignment between manufacturing and product developmenton a global scale, leveraging the company's worldwide product strategy. He willcontinue to directly oversee North American manufacturing operations. Inaddition, Hinrichs will have global responsibility for the company's MaterialPlanning and Logistics, Ford Production System, and Manufacturing BusinessOffice organizations. "Joe has been successful in leading the restructuring of our North Americanmanufacturing operations and was a key participant in the recent contract talkswith the UAW," Mulally said. "In his new role, Joe will focus on delivering aglobal manufacturing plan that allows us to improve our efficiency whileleveraging our scale worldwide. A global manufacturing footprint supporting aglobal product plan that delivers the vehicles people want and value are key tocreating an exciting and viable company - that delivers profitable growth forall." In his global role, Hinrichs reports to Mulally. In his North American role, hewill continue to report to Mark Fields, executive vice president and president,The Americas. "Our plants in North America are more competitive and our launches are stronger,thanks in large part to Joe's leadership," Fields said. "Integratingmanufacturing around the world and aligning it with product development on aglobal scale will make the entire business stronger." Hinrichs, who joined Ford in 2000 and has held a variety of top manufacturingjobs, led Ford's successful effort to negotiate Competitive Operating Agreementswith the United Auto Workers across Ford's U.S. manufacturing operations whiledriving improved quality. He also played a key role in this year's contractnegotiations with the UAW, which led to a new four-year U.S. labor agreementthat will help Ford become significantly more competitive and protects workersand retirees. "I am excited by the opportunity to bring our plants and engineering functionsaround the world together into one, cohesive manufacturing operation," Hinrichssaid. "Integrating a global process plan and combining it with our globalproduct plan allow us to accelerate our ability to produce the vehiclescustomers want around the world while continuing to improve quality." Hinrichs also will lead Automotive Components Holdings LLC, the Ford-managedtemporary business entity comprised of former Visteon Corp. plants andfacilities in the United States and Mexico. ACH is preparing its plants for saleor closure by the end of 2008. # # # Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn,Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across sixcontinents. With about 260,000 employees and about 100 plants worldwide, thecompany's core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Jaguar, LandRover, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financialservices through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regardingFord's products, please visit www.ford.com. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange