Ford Names New EV Marketer Amid Product Blitz

Ford Motor Co. has appointed C.J. O'Donnell, the top U.S. marketer for its Lincoln brand, as group manager for electric vehicle marketing.

O'Donnell is stepping in as Ford debuts five new hybrid and extended-range hybrid vehicles in the U.S. He replaces Wesley Liu, who has moved to China in a senior sales post.

Ford has not yet named a Lincoln replacement for O'Donnell, who has helped lead the brand's latest effort to recast itself as a leading global luxury marque. The latest-generation Lincoln MKZ midsize sedan is set to go on sale in America next month. Lincoln plans to introduce at least three new models in the next four years.

In his new job, O'Donnell will need to ensure that Ford's new electrified models fare better than the Focus Electric compact car launched late last year. The company has sold fewer than 200 of that model since then.

Ford began selling the C-MAX Hybrid small MPV and Fusion Hybrid midsize sedan and in the U.S. last month. The C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid are due in dealerships later this fall. The Fusion Energi plug-in car is scheduled to go into production by year-end.