Ford on Thursday brought back a long-time company executive to take on the new role of chief strategy officer, Reuters reported.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
According to the news agency, Ford, which has struggled to implement a multi-year plan to return to profitability, said Bruce Blythe, 58, had been appointed to the job, starting immediately.
Ford spokesman Oscar Suris told Reuters The position is a new one, although vice chairman Allan Gilmour is one of several top executives who have recently focused on strategic issues.
Reuters said Blythe worked at Ford from 1968 to 1993 and last held the position of vice president for business strategy at Ford of Europe – in his new capacity, he will report directly to chairman and chief executive Bill Ford Jr.
Suris told Reuters “strategic planning and strategic development for the future” was a top priority at the Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker and something Blythe was “uniquely qualified” to head.
Analyst David Healy of Burnham Securities told Reuters Blythe had been an “excellent” investor relations contact at Ford in the past and was thought to be well respected on Wall Street.
“He’s a bright guy,” Healy reportedly said, adding, however, that his new job and title were “sort of mysterious.”
Separately, Reuters said, Ford appointed Joe Greenwell, a vice president of marketing and operations, president of its British-based Jaguar and Land Rover units, succeeding veteran executive Bob Dover, who is retiring.
Reuters noted that Dover worked closely with Martin Leach, who unexpectedly resigned as head of Ford’s troubled European division in August.
Industry analysts have told Reuters that Jaguar, which lost roughly $US500 million last year, has improved its performance so far this year but may do no better than break-even.
Premier Automotive Group spokesman Stuart Dyble told Reuters that Dover’s retirement capped a 35-year career in the motor industry and added it had nothing to do with Leach’s resignation. He also said Dover would remain on special assignment at Jaguar and Land Rover until April, Reuters added.
