Ford’s UK Bridgend and Dagenham engine plants both have new managers following the retirement of Dagenham plant chief, Dave Parker, after almost 36 years with the company.
Parker joined Ford in 1977 and has worked at Dagenham for almost a decade, overseeing a number of changes, including preparation for the new, next generation, low-CO2 2.0-litre diesel engine that will be produced there. It was designed and engineered at the technical centre in Dunton, Essex.
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His replacement is Martin Everitt, who was assistant plant manager at Dagenham prior to becoming Bridgend plant manager in 2012. Everitt joined Ford as a graduate recruit in 1989 and has since worked in powertrain operations, including roles in Dearborn, Michigan and Cologne, Germany. His responsibilities have included engineering the production facilities for the one-litre, I3 EcoBoost engine.
Ian Pearson becomes Bridgend plant manager, having recently been the Craiova engine plant manager in Romania. Pearson joined Ford in 1977 as an apprentice toolmaker and has held a variety of senior manufacturing positions including roles in Valencia, Spain and Dagenham.
Combined production from Bridgend and Dagenham in 2013 exceeded 1.5m engines and over a 30-year period the two plants have produced 33m. Significant new investments have been announced at both facilities, including the new diesel at Dagenham and a new, fuel-efficient high-tech EcoBoost petrol engine at Bridgend.
Ford ended car production at Dagenham in the UK in 2003 and closed its Southampton Transit van plant in 2013. Its former plant in Liverpool was subsequently used by Jaguar and is now Tata Motors’ Land Rover Freelancer and Evoque factory.
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