Fields Named COO at Ford

Ford Motor Co.'s board has selected Mark Fields to become its chief operating officer. His new assignment, which had been widely expected, begins on Dec. 1.

Alan Mulally will continue as president and CEO at least through 2014. Fields will continue to report to him.

Fields, 51, will oversee all automotive units and staffs that include product development, manufacturing, marketing, sales and service, communications, labor, purchasing, quality, environment and safety engineering, information technology and government relations.

Succeeding Fields as executive vice president and president of the Americas is Joe Hinrichs, who currently heads Ford's Asia Pacific Africa operations.

Ford says it is aligning its operations in Africa and the Middle East with those in Europe, mainly for the sake of efficiency. Stephen Odell, 57, who has been chairman and CEO of Ford of Europe, will oversee all three regions in the newly created position of executive vice president and president of Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Jim Farley, currently group vice president for marketing, sales and service, will become an executive vice president and add "global" to his title. Farley, 50, also will become global leader for the company's Lincoln luxury brand.

In Asia, Ford has promoted David Schoch to executive vice president and president of Asia Pacific. Succeeding him as chairman and CEO of Ford Motor China is John Lawler, currently chief financial officer for Ford Asia Pacific Africa.