Mazda Motor Corporation has announced the appointment of Stephen Odell as senior adviser and president of Mazda Motor Europe, succeeding Jan Brentebråten who will return to a new role with Ford of Europe.

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John Mendel, currently director of marketing with Ford of Britain, will take up the position of executive vice president, sales & marketing, customer service & parts, at Mazda’s North American Operations based in Irvine, California. The appointments are effective from 1 January 2002.


Odell is currently vice president and chief operating officer of Mazda in North America.  He was previously vice president of marketing and sales and joined Mazda in January 2000 from a similar role at Jaguar North America.


Mendel began his career with Ford US operations in 1976 and has held numerous sales and marketing positions within Ford, Lincoln Mercury and Ford Customer Service. He was appointed director of marketing at Ford of Britain in 1999.

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