Dearborn, Mich., USA - November 3, 2009, Dearborn, Mich., USA - Ford Motor Company announced the retirements of two senior executives in the Asia Pacific and Africa region and announced other key executive appointments to support the company's "One Ford" transformation plan.
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John Parker, executive vice president, Asia Pacific and Africa, is retiring effective January 1, 2010, after a 41-year career with the company.
Mr. Parker joined Ford in South Africa and has held numerous senior leadership positions within Ford's Asia Pacific and Africa region, including the Southeast Asia region, South Africa, Taiwan, Australia and India.
He also served as senior executive vice president, Mazda Motor Corporation. He has been Ford's senior leader for Asia Pacific and Africa since 2006, with responsibility for all Ford operations and partnerships in the region.
Ford also announced that Phil Spender, Ford vice president and executive vice president, Mazda Motor Corporation, is retiring effective January 1, 2010.
Mr. Spender joined Ford New Zealand in 1975 before he moved on to senior manufacturing leadership roles at Ford Australia. He was instrumental in establishing operations at Ford India and automotive joint ventures across China. He led the transformation of the Ford Mazda joint venture, AutoAlliance International, in North America.
In 2008, Mr. Spender was elected vice president of Ford and elected by Mazda as an executive vice president and representative director.
Ford also announced two key leadership changes that will support the company's "One Ford" transformation plan.
Joe Hinrichs, Currently group vice president, Global Manufacturing and Labor Affairs, will succeed Parker as Ford's group vice president and president, Asia Pacific and Africa, and operate out of Shanghai, China.
Mr. Hinrichs joined Ford in 2000 as plant manager of the Van Dyke Transmission Plant in Sterling Heights, Mich.
Since then, he has served in a number of key leadership positions within Ford's manufacturing operations, including executive director of the company's Material Planning and Logistics organization, manufacturing director for Vehicle Operations, vice president of Vehicle Operations and vice president of North America Manufacturing.
Mr. Hinrichs also served as president and CEO of Ford Motor Company of Canada. He assumed his current position in January 2008.
John Fleming will add the role of Global Manufacturing and Labor Affairs to his current responsibilities as executive vice president and chairman and CEO, Ford of Europe, effective December 1.
Mr. Fleming will continue to be based in Cologne, Germany.
Mr. Fleming joined Ford in 1967 at the company's Halewood facility and has an extensive background in manufacturing at Ford, having served in a number of management roles, including director of Global Manufacturing Engineering and New Model Programs, executive director of the U.S. Ford Stamping Business Unit and vice president, Manufacturing, Ford of Europe. ■