Dearborn, Mich., USA - October 21, 2010, Dearborn, Mich., USA - Ford announces that Gerhard Schmidt, chief technical officer and vice president, Research & Advanced Engineering, will retire February 1, 2011.
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Dr. Schmidt leads Ford's worldwide research organization based in Dearborn, Michigan, and Aachen, Germany. As head of the advanced engineering group, he also oversees the planning, development and implementation of Ford's top global technology objectives.
Dr. Schmidt is a member of the Automotive Fuel Cell Corporation (AFCC) Board of Directors; the USCAR Council; Ford/Massachusetts Institute of Technology Alliance; Honorary Committee of the International Federation of Automotive Engineering Societies (FISITA); the University of Michigan Engineering Advisory Council (EAC); and a member of the Advisory Board of the Oakland University School of Engineering and Computer Science (SECS). He serves as a member of the Scientific Advisory Council of ATZautotechnology magazine and is a board member of the German American Chamber of Commerce (GACC), Michigan.
Prior to his arrival at Ford, Dr. Schmidt served as Senior Vice President Vehicle Integration at BMW AG and spent 10 years as Senior Vice President Powertrain Development for the German automaker. During his 21 years at BMW, he held a wide range of leadership roles in engine research and development.
Dr. Schmidt received his degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1971 from the University of Aachen in Germany, and his Ph.D. in Investigations on Stratified Charge – Internal Combustion Engines in 1979 from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Aachen. In 2007 and 2008 he was awarded Advisory Professorships at the Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the Chongqing University.
Paul Mascarenas, currently vice president, Engineering, is appointed Chief Technical Officer and vice president, Research & Advanced Engineering, replacing Schmidt effective January 1, 2011.
Ingvar Sviggum, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe, will retire January 1, 2011. He will be succeeded by Roelant de Waard, vice president, Sales, Ford of Europe, who is elected an officer of the company.
Barb Samardzich, vice president, Powertrain Engineering, is appointed vice president, Global Product Programs, effective January 1, 2011.
Joe Bakaj, vice president, Global Product Programs and Product Development, Ford of Europe, is appointed vice president, Powertrain Engineering, effective January 1, 2011.
Raj Nair, vice president, Operations, Asia Pacific and Africa, is elected an officer of the company and appointed vice president, Engineering, effective January 1, 2011.
Frank Davis, executive director, North America Product Programs, is appointed vice president, Product Development, Ford of Europe. Mr. Davis will report to both Odell and Kuzak. ■