Ford Reshuffle Puts Donaldson, Scheele in Top Spots
11 June 1999
Donaldson to Head Global Business Development; Scheele to Become President, Ford of Europe;Ford Names New Vice Presidents
DEARBORN, Mich. -- Ford Motor Company today announced that James D. Donaldson
has been elected group vice president in charge of the Global Business Development
office, effective July 1.
Donaldson, formerly president, Ford of Europe, will be responsible for
strategic direction for Ford's present and future automotive and non-
automotive businesses, announced Jacques Nasser, Ford president and chief
executive officer.
"During his tenure, Jim worked to strengthen the Ford of Europe
organization, launched the highly successful Ford Focus and delivered a number
of strategic initiatives designed to improve the business structure long
term," Nasser said. "As we transform and grow our businesses, and continue on
our journey to becoming the world's leading consumer company for automotive
products and services, it is imperative to have a seasoned, experienced
business person with a global perspective working on strategic issues
affecting the company. I have always valued Jim's judgment and counsel, and
look forward to working with him in this role."
Replacing Donaldson in Europe will be Nick Scheele, who had been senior
vice president for Marketing, Sales and Service in Ford's European Operations.
Before his present position, Scheele spent seven years as chairman and chief
executive officer of Jaguar Cars Ltd.
"Nick successfully repositioned Jaguar as one of the world's leading
premium brands. And as president of Ford of Europe, he will be able to apply
his valuable Jaguar experience to enhance the image and grow the volume of the
Ford brand in Europe," Nasser said. "Nick also is committed to continuation
of the policies started by Donaldson, which include a strong focus on the
consumer, product quality and sound profitability. His appointment also will
ensure long-term continuity in the Ford leadership team in Europe."
In addition, the Ford Board of Directors elected several new corporate
vice presidents, and all are effective July 1.
-- Earl Hesterberg joins Ford as vice president, Marketing, Sales and
Service for Ford of Europe. Hesterberg was most recently with Gulf States
Toyota, a private company that operates Toyota dealerships in the southern
United States of America. Before that, he was with Nissan in the U.S. and
Europe.
-- Brian Kelley joins Ford as corporate vice president and chief
operating officer of the Ford Investment Enterprises Corp., a subsidiary
dedicated to revolutionizing the way Ford distributes its products and
services to consumers. Kelley, who most recently was vice president and
general manager for sales and distribution with General Electric's Appliance
division, will be responsible for day-to-day operations of Ford Investment
Enterprises Corp. and will report to Ross Roberts, a Ford vice president and
president and chief executive officer of Ford Investment Enterprises Corp.
Ford Investment Enterprises Corp. arranges Auto Collections in various markets
in partnership with most or all of the dealers in that market.
-- Bobbie Gaunt is elected a corporate vice president and remains
president and chief executive officer, Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited.
-- Jim Schroer is elected vice president, Global Marketing. Prior to his
new position, Schroer was executive director of Ford Marketing Strategy and
Brand Management Office.
-- Frank Taylor is elected vice president, Material Planning and
Logistics. Taylor, who joined Ford last fall after a 25-year career at
General Motors, had been executive director of that activity.
William Cosgrove moves to vice president, Strategy, and chief financial
officer, Premier Automotive Group, reporting to Wolfgang Reitzle, group vice
president, Premier Automotive Group. Cosgrove had been vice president,
Business and Product Strategy, for Ford.
(INDIVIDUAL BIOGRAPHIES FOLLOW)
BIOGRAPHY: JAMES D. DONALDSON
James D. Donaldson has been elected group vice president in charge of the
Global Business Development office, effective July 1, 1999. Donaldson,
formerly president, Ford of Europe, will be responsible for strategic
direction for Ford's present and future automotive and non-automotive
businesses. He was appointed president, Ford of Europe on January 1, 1998,
and as such has been the senior Ford executive in Europe.
He joined Ford of Britain as a graduate trainee in 1964 and subsequently
held product planning, sales and marketing positions with Ford of Europe. In
1976, he was appointed vice president - Car Product Planning for Ford of
Europe. He was named director of Ford's International Product and Marketing
Strategy Office in 1977.
In 1980, he was assigned to NAAO as executive director of Powertrain and
Chassis Operations, and he subsequently held executive director positions in
Car Product Development and North American Marketing.
In 1988, Donaldson was appointed chief operating officer of Autolatina
Limitada, the holding company for Ford's joint venture with Volkswagen in
Brazil and Argentina. In 1991, he was appointed assistant general manager of
North American Truck Operations and he became vice president and general
manager of Truck Operations in 1992.
He subsequently led the Large Front Wheel Drive Vehicle Centre and in
1996, prior to his latest European assignment, he was appointed vice president
of the global Truck Vehicle Centre.
Born in Paisley, Scotland, he holds a master's degree from Glasgow
University in Scotland.
BIOGRAPHY: NICK SCHEELE
Nick Scheele has been appointed president, Ford of Europe effective
July 1, 1999. He previously was senior vice president for Marketing, Sales
and Service in Ford's European Operations, a position to which he was
appointed on March 19, 1999.
Scheele was chairman and CEO of Jaguar Cars Ltd., from 1992 to 1999.
Under his leadership there, Jaguar's sales doubled worldwide as Jaguar
regained its rightful place as one of the top marques worldwide in terms of
brand image, product quality and customer satisfaction.
Scheele's career at Ford began in 1966 where he held several successive
senior purchasing appointments in Ford's British and European Operations
before moving to the U.S. in 1978. In 1988 Scheele became President of Ford
of Mexico where he directed Ford's manufacturing and marketing operations in
this major Central American market.
Scheele is actively involved in many local charity, business and community
support projects. He serves on the Advisory Boards of Coventry University,
the British American Chamber of Commerce, the Fullbright Commission and on the
Advisory Board of Durham University. He is a Midland Council Member of the
Institute of Directors and is on the Executive Committee of the Society of
Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
He was born in Essex on Jan. 3, 1944. Married with three children,
Scheele lives in Warwickshire and lists reading and music as his interests.
He is an accomplished linguist and speaks several European languages fluently.
BIOGRAPHY: EARL HESTERBERG
Earl Hesterberg is a Ford Motor Company vice president and vice president
of Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe, effective July 1, 1999.
Born Aug. 16, 1953, Hesterberg, began his automotive industry career at
Ford Motor Company in 1975. In 1981, he moved to Nissan and spent 17 years
there in various assignments, including vice president, Parts and Service,
Nissan Motor Corporation USA, and vice president, Sales, for Nissan of Europe.
Hesterberg spent the past year as president and chief executive officer of
Gulf States Toyota, Inc., a private company that owns Toyota dealerships in
the southern United States of America.
Hesterberg earned a B.A. Degree in psychology at Davidson College in North
Carolina and a Masters in Business Administration from Xavier University in
Cincinnati, Ohio.
BIOGRAPHY: BRIAN P. KELLEY
Brian P. Kelley is a Ford Motor Company vice president and chief operating
officer of Ford Investment Enterprises Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary
established to develop and implement leading edge distribution strategies
across the full range of Ford Motor Company products, effective July 1, 1999.
Kelley, who most recently was vice president and general manager for sales
and distribution with General Electric's Appliance division, will be
responsible for day-to-day operations of Ford Investment Enterprises, and will
report to Ross Roberts, a Ford vice president and Ford Investment Enterprises
president and chief executive officer.
Before his five year stint with GE, Kelley spent 11 years with Procter &
Gamble, serving in various brand management positions. He is a 1983 graduate
of Holy Cross College, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Economics.
BIOGRAPHY: BOBBIE GAUNT
Bobbie Gaunt is a Ford Motor Company vice president, and president and CEO
of Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited. She is the first woman to head
Canada's longest-established automobile company and also was the first woman
at Ford named to lead a national operation.
Gaunt today is responsible for 14,500 employees and eight assembly and
manufacturing plants in Canada. She has become a leading spokesperson for
the Canadian automobile industry and is current chairperson of the Canadian
Vehicle Manufacturer's Association.
She also is a member of the Advisory Board of the Richard Ivey School of
Business; co-chair of the Toronto Chapter of the International Women's Forum;
and a founding partner of the Canadian Chapter of Women's Automotive
Association International.
Earlier this year Gaunt was honored with the Automotive Hall of Fame's
"Distinguished Service Citation" for her significant contributions to the
industry. In 1998, she was named "CEO of the Year" by the Canadian Public
Relations Society, and she also received the Women's Automotive Association
International's "Professional Achievement Award" for her outstanding
contributions to the promotion and enhancement of the automobile industry in
Canada.
She joined Ford in 1972 and has held key sales and marketing positions at
Ford, relocating 10 times. She was appointed a Ford corporate vice president
effective July 1, 1999.
A native of Washington, Pa., she is a graduate of the University of
Pittsburgh and of Stanford University's Senior Executive Program.
BIOGRAPHY: JAMES C. SCHROER
James C. Schroer has been appointed vice president, Global Marketing. He
previously was the executive director of Ford Motor Company's Marketing
Strategy and Brand Management Office, a position to which he was appointed in
October, 1996. In his new role of vice president, Schroer will continue to be
responsible for the development of Ford's marketing and brand strategies
worldwide.
From 1975 to 1979 Schroer was vice president - marketing for STP
Corporation and from 1979 to 1982 vice president - marketing for Wagner
Electric Corporation.
In 1983 Schroer moved to Booz, Allen and Hamilton as vice president and
partner, a position he held until 1990.
In 1990 he joined RJR Nabisco as executive vice president - sales and
marketing.
Schroer returned to Booz, Allen and Hamilton in 1995 as vice president and
lead partner consumer industries, a position he held prior to joining Ford in
October, 1996.
Schroer was born October 27, 1951 in Hammond, Indiana. He earned a
bachelor's degree in economics from Carleton College and a master's degree in
business administration from Harvard University.
BIOGRAPHY: FRANK M. TAYLOR
Frank M. Taylor was elected vice president, Material Planning and
Logistics, Ford Motor Company as of July 1, 1999.
Taylor has global responsibilities for material planning, production
control, scheduling, inventory management, logistics and synchronous material
flow. He joined Ford in September 1998. Prior to joining Ford, Taylor was
the executive director, Production Control and Logistics of GM Powertrain
since 1994.
Taylor began his career as a GMI student with Delco Remy in Anderson,
Indiana. He was promoted to supervisor in 1970, while completing his thesis
and functioned in that capacity until promoted to purchasing buyer in 1972.
Taylor became general supervisor of OEM shipping in 1973 and advanced to
superintendent of Material/Production Control in 1975. In 1977, he was
promoted to assistant superintendent of Manufacturing and remained in that
capacity until appointed to the post of Labor Relations manager in 1978. In
1979, Taylor was promoted to manager of Customer Order Processing and Systems,
and in 1980, promoted to manager of Material Control, Logistics and Systems.
Taylor then held positions as the manufacturing superintendent and plant
manager of various Delco Remy manufacturing operations.
Taylor transferred to the Chevrolet-Pontiac-GM of Canada Group in 1984 as
director of Production Planning and Scheduling. He was later appointed
manager, Materials Management Program for the "A" vehicle platform in 1988,
and in 1989, assumed responsibility for the Corvette platform as well.
In 1990, Taylor joined GM Engine Division as divisional director of
Production Control and Logistics. He was then promoted in 1991 to director of
Production Control-Engines for GM Powertrain, the position he held prior to
his appointment as executive director, Production Control and Logistics - GM
Powertrain Group on March 1, 1994.
Taylor received a bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering from the
General Motors Institute in 1971. He has also attended the University of
Illinois Executive Development Program, as well as executive programs at the
Wharton School of Business, the University of Tennessee, and Thunderbird
University.
BIOGRAPHY: WILLIAM J. COSGROVE
William J. Cosgrove has been appointed vice president, Strategy, and chief
financial officer, Premier Automotive Group effective July 1, 1999. He had
been vice president, Business and Product Strategy, a position he assumed on
Jan. 1, 1999.
Previously, Mr. Cosgrove was Corporate Controller. He was responsible for
developing and coordinating the Corporate and Automotive Strategic and
Business Plans, making recommendations regarding financial and business
matters, conducting special studies, and preparing financial-related material
for review with the Board of Directors and at Corporate Meetings.
Mr. Cosgrove has also served in a number of senior finance operating
positions. These included Vice President and Chief Finance Officer for Ford
of Europe, Executive Vice President - Finance and Administration for
Autolatina, a joint venture between Ford and Volkswagen in Brazil and
Argentina; Treasurer - Ford of Europe, and Executive Director - Finance, South
African Motor Corporation, a joint venture between Ford and the Anglo American
Corporation in South Africa.
Mr. Cosgrove joined Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan, as a finance
trainee in 1972. Later, Mr. Cosgrove was assigned to numerous financial
analysis positions of increasing responsibility in Product Development and
North American Automotive Operations. He held several international
assignments from 1980 to 1994, when he was named to his current assignment.
Mr. Cosgrove was born July 12, 1945, in New York City. He obtained a
Bachelor of Commerce and Economics at Washington & Lee University before
entering the U.S. Army in 1967. After completing his U.S. Army service, he
joined the Marine Midland Bank. He was selected for the Syracuse University
MBA program, where he received a degree in 1972.
Mr. Cosgrove lives in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.