In exclusive news broken this morning by just-auto, top Ford executives Stephen Odell and Jim Farley are to swap jobs.
A well-placed source speaking exclusively to just-auto said that a formal announcement of the reorganisation of Ford’s top management is expected later today.
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The news follows reports and speculation yesterday concerning Odell’s position as head of Ford Europe.
Jim Farley currently heads up global sales and marketing for Ford and is based at Ford’s HQ in Dearborn.
The reshuffle is the first major change to Ford’s top management line-up since Mark Fields took over from Alan Mulally as Ford CEO in the summer.
See also: GERMANY: Ford Europe’s Odell to move – report
Jim Farley’s biog
James Farley’s (age 52) current job title is executive vice president of Global Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford Motor Company, which was effective Sept. 1, 2014.
He was appointed to lead global marketing, sales and service in August 2010, and it marked the first time Ford had a single global leader for marketing, sales and service. He also held operating responsibility as the senior global leader for Lincoln from December 2012 to August 2014.
Previously, Farley was group vice president, global marketing and Canada, Mexico and South America. He had added responsibility for Ford’s operations in Canada, Mexico and South America in September 2009.
Farley joined Ford in November 2007 and before that was group vice president and general manager of Lexus, responsible for all sales, marketing and customer satisfaction activities for Toyota’s luxury brand. Prior to that job, Farley served as group vice president of Toyota Division marketing and was responsible for all Toyota Division market planning, advertising, merchandising, sales promotion, incentives and Internet activities. Farley joined Toyota in 1990 in the strategic planning department and served in several product and marketing positions. Among his achievements was the launch and rollout of Toyota’s Scion brand.
Stephen Odell’s biog
London-born Stephen Odell (59) is executive vice president and president of Europe, Middle East and Africa, Ford Motor Company, effective Dec. 1, 2012.
Previously, Odell was group vice president, chairman and CEO, Ford of Europe.
Prior to this, Odell was a Ford vice president and president and CEO of Volvo Car Corporation, a role he held from October 2008. Before that, Odell was chief operating officer, Ford of Europe, responsible for Product Development, Manufacturing, Purchasing, and Marketing, Sales and Service operations (Barb Samardzich’s current role).
Between September 2005 and April 2008, Odell was Ford Motor Company vice president and vice president of Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe. Prior to this position, he was director and senior managing executive officer in charge of Marketing, Sales and Customer Services at Mazda Motor Corporation in Japan, where he was also a member of the board.
Odell joined Ford Motor Company in 1980 as a graduate trainee for Ford of Britain. He worked in several management positions in sales and marketing in Britain and the US, before being appointed vice president, Marketing and Sales, Jaguar North America, in 1997.
In January 2000, Odell joined Mazda Motor North America as a vice president Marketing and Sales. Odell became chief operations officer, Mazda North America, in October 2000, and was appointed president of Mazda Europe in January 2002. In May 2003, he was elected senior managing executive officer, Marketing, Sales and Customer Services, Mazda Motor Corporation, Japan.
