Ex-Ford President Scheele Dies

Nick Scheele, who served as Ford Motor Co.'s president and COO between 2001 and his retirement in 2005, died on Friday at age 70.

Scheele was a past group vice president of Ford North America, chairman of Ford of Europe, chairman and CEO of Jaguar Cars Ltd. and president of Ford of Mexico. Born in Essex, England, he was awarded a knighthood in 2001.

The highly regarded Scheele was known for his infectious personality and troubleshooting skills. In the U.K., he also was an avid supporter of education of young people.

He served as chancellor at the University of Warwick in 2002 and more recently chairman of airbag and inflatable seatbelt supplier Key Safety Systems Inc. in Sterling Heights, Mich., and chairman of Grupo Metalsa SA, the Mexican maker of automotive frames, body structures and other metal components.

Scheele began his career at Ford in 1966 and first came to the U.S. in 1988. As Ford's president more than a dozen years later, helped redirect the company after the departure of CEO Jacques Nasser. Chairman Bill Ford Jr. credits Scheele with helping identify the company's next wave of executive leaders.