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Hughes to Take Over Reins of Mazda North American Operations

30 August 2000

Hughes to Take Over Reins of Mazda North American Operations, Reports Automotive News

    DETROIT, Aug. 30 Ford Motor Co. and Mazda North American
Operations will name Charles Hughes the new president of Mazda North America
this week, a high-level source has told Automotive News.
    Hughes, 55, retired in 1999 after 13 years as president of Land Rover
North America.  In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Hughes pioneered a niche
for Range Rover that straddles two segments -- luxury/performance and sport-
utility.
    During the recession in the early 1990s, Hughes was one of the first
luxury importers to insist on exclusive franchises to compete with Lexus and
Infiniti and to position Land Rover as an all-wheel-drive specialist.  Most
luxury brands followed suit.
    Hughes will replace Richard Beattie, who will become Ford vice president
of investor relations Sept. 1.  Beattie, 45, will be responsible for soothing
Wall Street, where auto stocks in general are held in low regard.