Several Ford Vice Presidents Elect to Retire at Year-End
9 October 1998
Several Ford Vice Presidents Elect to Retire at Year-End
DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 9 -- Several Ford Motor Company
officers have indicated their intention to retire at year-end, Ford
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Alex Trotman and President and Chief
Executive Officer-elect Jac Nasser announced today.
"A number of our senior executives, many of whom were hired in the early
to mid-1960s, have reached the age and length of service when retirement is an
attractive option," Trotman said. "They have concluded that this is a good
time to leave and allow the next generation of management to build on the
success of Ford 2000 as the company moves toward the 21st century. Each has
served the company with great distinction and has earned the respect and
gratitude of his colleagues."
Trotman continued: "Over the years, Ford Motor Company has gone through a
number of leadership transitions and is used to change. Those changes, like
this one, were built on the successes of the past and the people who inspired
them."
"This is a strong company with a rich and wonderful heritage -- one that
inspires the loyalty of employees who treasure its past, but always look
forward to future challenges and opportunities," said Nasser. "It is the
people of Ford Motor Company and their passion for excellence that drive the
organization. Those who are retiring have left us with a very successful
company, with great spirit and a vision for the future on which new
generations of leadership can build and grow."
The executives who have announced they are retiring are:
* Charles W. Szuluk, 55, Ford group vice president and president -
Visteon Automotive Systems. He was instrumental, as vice president - Process
Leadership, in leading the development of many of the key company operating
systems that have been installed successfully with Ford 2000, including the
Ford Production System, the Ford Product Development System and the Order-to-
Delivery System. Recently, Szuluk led the formation of Visteon as an
enterprise of Ford Motor Company. He joined Ford in 1988 after 24 years with
IBM and has been a vice president since 1994.
* Robert H. Transou, 59, group vice president - Manufacturing. Transou
led the study and transition teams that developed and implemented Ford 2000
and subsequently led the installation of the Ford Production System on a
global basis, with common processes and shared best practices. He has been a
key leader in the improving quality of the company's vehicles and the
efficiency of its plants. Transou has held senior positions in Product
Development, Powertrain Operations and Engineering. He joined Ford in 1962
and has been a vice president since 1993.
* Kenneth R. Dabrowski, 55, vice president - Quality and Process
Leadership. He joined Ford in 1964 and has spent most of his career in a
variety of senior Product Development positions including heading up the
Commercial Vehicle Center. He recently has led the significant quality
improvement efforts at Ford and the development of the Information Technology
systems in the company. He has been a vice president since 1994.
* John T. Huston, 55, vice president - Powertrain Operations, since 1994.
He joined Ford in 1966 and held a number of senior positions in North American
and European Product Development and Powertrain Operations. He recently has
overseen the development of new generations of powertrains that will come to
market in the future. He also has been a special advocate for, and leader of,
the development and recruiting of world-class engineers at Ford and a leader
in empowerment and other aspects of the company's culture change. He has been
a vice president since 1994.
* Robert O. Kramer, 59, vice president - Human Resources, joined Ford in
1963 and has spent his career in Human Resources in Europe and North America.
He has strengthened the already strong relationship with the UAW and recently
led the creation of HR 2000, a global, customer-focused human resources system
that is modernizing the human resource function at Ford. He also has led the
development and installation of innovative human resource practices that have
contributed to the company's culture change under Ford 2000. He has been a
vice president since 1995.
* John W. Martin, Jr., 62, vice president and General Counsel, joined
Ford in 1970 and was elected a vice president in 1989 after holding a number
of senior positions in the Office of the General Counsel. He has represented
Ford's legal interests globally and has been at the forefront of innovation in
corporate legal activities. He also has achieved national prominence by being
a tireless campaigner for tort reform and by founding and chairing the Civil
Justice Reform Group. He also has been active in a number of other public
activities, including the National Women's Law Center and the National Legal
Aid and Defender Association.
* David Scott, 58, vice president - Public Affairs, joined Ford in 1967
and has spent his career in a number of public and government affairs
positions in the U. S. and Canada. He has directed the company's global
public affairs since 1985, through the tenures of three chief executives and
the launches of numerous cars and trucks around the world. He led the massive
internal communications effort that helped the culture change required to
launch and develop Ford 2000 successfully. He has been a vice president since
1986.
Brief Biographies Follow
CHARLES W. SZULUK, group vice president, president Visteon Automotive
Systems. Born Jan. 2, 1943, in Boston, Mass. Received bachelor's degree from
Lowell University. Held a variety of manufacturing and general management
positions during 24 years with IBM. Joined Ford in 1988 as general
manufacturing manager for Electronics Division. Appointed general manager,
Electronics Division in April 1991. Elected vice president - Process
Leadership on May 1, 1994. Assumed present position Nov. 1, 1996.
ROBERT H. TRANSOU, group vice president - Manufacturing, Ford Automotive
Operations. Born Nov. 5, 1939, in Elkin, N.C. Received bachelor's degree
from North Carolina State University and master's degree from University of
Michigan. Joined Ford in 1962 as an engineer on Engineering and Research
Staff. Named manager - Rear Suspension and Frame for the former Chassis
Division in 1972. Appointed manager - Emission Systems Engineering, Advance
Engine Engineering in 1975. Moved to the Small V-8 Engine department as
manager in 1977. Became executive engineer of Eight-Cylinder Engine
Engineering the following year. Served as service engineering manager from
1980 until 1983, when he was named assistant chief engineer - Engine Systems
Engineering. Appointed assistant chief engineer - Powertrain Systems
Development Engineering in 1985. Became chief engineer - Powertrain Planning
and Engineering the following year. Named engineering director - Body and
Chassis Engineering in 1989. Became general manager - Engine Operations in
March 1991, and general manager - Powertrain Operations in November 1991.
Elected a company vice president Jan. 1, 1993. Assumed present position
May 1, 1994.
KENNETH R. DABROWSKI, vice president - Quality and Process Leadership,
Ford Automotive Operations. Born Aug. 23, 1943, in Detroit. Received
bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical engineering from the University
of Detroit and MBA from Wayne State University. Joined Ford in 1964 as a
co-op student. Held a number of positions in engineering and Car Product
Development before being named manager, Vehicle Engineering Department, in
1973. Appointed executive engineer, Ignition and Emissions Components in
1978, and chief engineer, Small and Mid-Size Car Design/Development, in 1985.
Named program manager, Small Car and Specialty Vehicle Programs, in 1987.
Appointed executive director, Body Engineering, North American Automotive
Operations, in March 1991. Named executive director, Product Strategy and
Cycle Planning, Ford Automotive Operations on May 1, 1994. Elected vice
president - Commercial Truck Vehicle Center, Ford Automotive Operations, on
Sept. 12, 1994. Assumed present position Nov. 1, 1996.
JOHN T. HUSTON, vice president - Powertrain Operations, Ford Automotive
Operations. Born Jan. 21, 1943, in Madison, WI. Received bachelor's and
master's degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Wisconsin.
Joined Ford in 1966 on Engineering Staff. Following several Car Product
Development assignments, was named executive engineer, Product Audit, Analysis
Certification and Safety/Warranty in 1979. Appointed executive engineer,
Induction, Ignition and Fuel Metering Components Engineering in 1983, and
executive engineer, Car Powertrain Systems Development in 1985. Named
assistant chief engineer, Powertrain Systems Development Engineering in 1986
and program manager, Large Car Rear-Wheel-Drive Programs in 1988. Appointed
chief engineer, Powertrain Planning and Engineering in 1989, and chief
engineer, Powertrain Engineering in 1990. Was named vice president,
Powertrain Group, Ford of Europe, in May 1992. Elected a company vice
president and assumed present position May 1, 1994.
ROBERT O. KRAMER, vice president - Human Resources. Born Jan. 20, 1939,
in Cincinnati, Ohio. Received bachelor's degree in industrial relations and
economics, and master's degree in economics from the University of Cincinnati.
Joined Ford in June 1963 as a recruiting and placement representative on the
Personnel and Organization Staff and held a number of positions with Steel
Division, Salaried Personnel, Finance, and Organization. Named director -
Organization and Personnel, Ford of Europe, in 1981. Appointed executive
director of Ford's Executive Development Strategy Office on Jan. 1, 1994.
Elected to present position April 13, 1995.
JOHN W. MARTIN JR., vice president - General Counsel. Born Sept. 1, 1936,
in Evergreen Park, Ill. Received bachelor of arts and juris doctorate degrees
from DePaul University, Chicago. Joined Ford's legal staff as a senior
attorney in 1970 after association with the New York City law firm of Donovan,
Leisure, Newton & Irvine. Named an associate counsel in 1972 and counsel for
general litigation in 1974. Became assistant general counsel for antitrust
and product litigation in 1976 and associate general counsel in November 1977.
Elected a company vice president and appointed to present position April 1,
1989.
DAVID W. SCOTT, vice president - Public Affairs. Born July 24, 1940, in
Shillong, India. Received bachelor's degree in political science from
Southeast Missouri State University. Joined Ford in 1967 as a college
graduate trainee on Public Relations Staff. In 1971, became public relations
manager for Ford Truck Operations. Became regional manager of the Los Angeles
Public Relations Office in 1975, and was named international public relations
manager in 1976. Elected vice president - Public Affairs for Ford of Canada
in 1977 and returned to U.S. in 1978 as director of International Public
Relations. In 1980, was named director of International and Diversified
Products Public Relations and became director of North American Public Affairs
in 1981. Named executive director - Public Affairs in February 1985. Elected
a company vice president in 1986.