Ford Names New Chiefs for N. America, Europe, Asia

Ford Motor Co. has named new presidents for its North American, European and Asian regional operations. The announcement comes only three days after the company appointed Jim Hackett to replace Mark Fields as president and CEO.

Hackett says the new assignments will improve teamwork, sharpen accountability and help Ford make decisions faster. The three new presidents are:

• Raj Nair, 52, who will become president of North America on June 1. Nair succeeds Joe Hinrichs, who was promoted on Monday to president of global operations. Nair most recently was Ford’s head of product development and chief technical officer.
• Peter Fleet, 50, who will take over as president of Asia Pacific and chairman of Ford China on July 1. He will succeed Dave Schoch, 66, who is retiring. Fleet’s previous assignment was vice president of marketing, sales and service for the Asia-Pacific region.
• Steven Armstrong, 52, who will become president of Ford operations in Europe, Middle East and Africa, effective June 1. He succeeds Jim Farley, who was named on Monday as president of global markets. Armstrong formerly was chief operating officer for Ford of Europe.

Appointed to fill the former positions held by Nair and Fleet are:

• Ken Washington, 56, who will continue as head of research and advanced engineering but succeed Nair as Ford’s chief technical officer.
• Mark Ovenden, 53, who will succeed Fleet as vice president of marketing, sales and service for Asia Pacific. Ovenden had been president of the company’s Ford Sollers venture in Russia.