Ford Motor Company Veteran Joins carOrder.com as General Counsel; Automotive Industry Legal Veteran Gerald Ducharme Joins carOrder.com
2 May 2000
Ford Motor Company Veteran Joins carOrder.com as General Counsel; Automotive Industry Legal Veteran Gerald Ducharme Joins carOrder.com
AUSTIN, Texas--May 2, 2000--carOrder.com(TM), the nation's first and largest automotive eDealer, today announced the appointment of Gerald Ducharme as general counsel.Ducharme joins carOrder.com after thirty years with Ford Motor Company [NYSE: F] where he most recently served as assistant general counsel. During his tenure at Ford, Ducharme was integral in Ford's distribution and trade regulation management and was the principal Ford attorney spearheading all European legal aspects of the acquisition of Jaguar Cars Limited by Ford.
"Jerry brings extensive experience from the automotive industry," said Brian K. Stafford, president and co-founder of carOrder.com. "His expertise in state franchise law, distribution, and regulatory issues will be essential as carOrder.com continues to acquire dealerships across the country to provide consumers with a better car buying experience."
"After more than thirty years in the automotive industry, I recognize that the marketplace is evolving. The time is ripe for a new level of service in car-buying," said Ducharme. "With its clicks and mortar eDealer model, carOrder.com is the company best positioned to win in the online space by delivering better value and a superior shopping experience."
Ducharme worked in numerous capacities at Ford Motor Company including senior attorney for Mid East and Africa Sales Operations, and counsel for Ford Europe where he handled the acquisition of Aston Martin Limited and the formation of Auto Europa with Volkswagen. He also negotiated terms of sale of the Ford US heavy truck business to Freightliner. Ducharme is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Detroit School of Law. He will be based at carOrder.com corporate headquarters in Austin, Texas.