FDM Group Regulatory News (FDM)

13 Apr 2006 15:28

Ford Motor Co13 April 2006 NEWS Contact: Rogelio Golfarb Said Deep 55-11-41749528 313-658-0104 rgolfarb@ford.com sdeep@ford.com IMMEDIATE RELEASE FORD REALIGNS SOUTH AMERICA OPERATION • Dominic DiMarco is appointed executive director, Canada and South America• Barry Engle is appointed president, Ford Mercosul and President Ford Brazil• Antonio Maciel Neto resigns as president, Ford South America, effective May 3, to join Suzano Papel e Celulose as CEO SAO BERNARDO DO CAMPO, Brazil, April 13, 2006 - Ford Motor Company announcedtoday a realignment of the Canada and South America organizations, and has namedDominic DiMarco executive director, Canada and South America. Concurrent withthis change, Barry Engle becomes president, Ford Mercosul and Ford Brazil. Hewill report to DiMarco. The changes are effective immediately. Louise Goeser remains president, Ford of Mexico, and like DiMarco will continueto report to Mark Fields, executive vice president and president, The Americas.William Osborne remains president, Ford of Canada and will report to DiMarco. Antonio Maciel Neto resigns his position as president of Ford South America tojoin Suzano Papell e Celulose as its new CEO. His resignation will be effectiveMay 3. Maciel will remain to ensure a smooth transition during the realignmentof the region. "I came to Ford to be part of the most important automotive turnaround in Brazilhistory and we've accomplished that," Maciel said. "We have a great team inplace at Ford to continue the success we started. I am now ready to take on anew challenge." In his new role, DiMarco will oversee diverse business operations in SouthAmerica including product development, more than 500 dealerships, multiple carand light truck manufacturing plants, and the only wholly owned commercial truckoperation in Ford Motor Company. He assumes leadership of South America to focuson the strategic planning for the region, including developing plans to furtherincrease market share and profitability. In addition, he will oversee operationsin the Andina region. From 1999 to 2005, Ford South America has accomplished one of the mostsuccessful business turnarounds in the region. For the past nine quarters, Fordhas been the most profitable automotive company in South America. Previously, DiMarco was executive director, Operations Support and Finance andStrategy for Canada, Mexico and South America. Prior to that assignment, DiMarcowas finance director for the North America Labor Negotiations team. He has alsoserved as chief finance director of International Operations, including NewMarkets and the Asia-Pacific region. DiMarco joined Ford in 1973 as a financialanalyst and also has held significant positions in North American Sales andService Operations and Manufacturing. In addition, DiMarco previously worked inSouth America as finance controller for Autolatina in Brazil. "With Dom's overall broad experience in international markets, and more recentlyin Canada, Mexico and South America he will bring a business and leadershipperspective that moves Canada and South America forward," said Fields. In his new position, Engle will be responsible for all Mercosul operations,including Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, plus the markets of Chile,Bolivia and Peru. Engle returned to Ford Brazil in September 2005, havingpreviously served as the director, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford Brazilfrom 2001 to 2003. Engle's career has included a variety of international management experiences;prior to his return to Brazil he was director and general manager, WorldwideDirect Market Operations with responsibility for export operations in 116markets around the world. Previously, Engle was director, North America ProductStrategy and Planning, a position to which he was appointed in December 2004.Prior to that, he had been General Marketing Manager, Ford Customer ServiceDivision. Engle also has first-hand automotive retail experience, having been adealer himself. Engle joined Ford in 1992. He held a variety of marketing and sales positionsrepresenting Ford Division, Lincoln Mercury, and Mazda in the United States,Mexico and Japan. "Barry is an innovative leader, which has been reinforced in his short tenure aspresident, Ford Brazil. I look forward to working with him even more closely toshape the direction of the commercial operations across the region," saidDiMarco. Maciel joined Ford Motor Company in July 1999 as president of Ford Brazil. InOctober 2003, he was named president of Ford South America Operations. Macielwas elected a corporate vice president in October 2004. During his tenure heled the successful regional business turnaround and prepared the business forsustained profitability. "Maciel has made a significant contribution to the Ford Motor Company globalbusiness through innovations in product, business and marketing strategies. Wewish Maciel well in his new role and thank him for his work at Ford MotorCompany," said Fields. ### 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