Ford has named Lewis Booth president and chief operating officer of Ford Europe – replacing Martin Leach – and appointed John Parker executive vice president and assistant to the president at Mazda Motor Corporation.

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Separately, Mazda’s board of directors has elected Hisakazu Imaki president and chief executive officer in Booth’s place.


Booth, 54, will report to David Thursfield, executive vice president, international operations and global purchasing. Booth had been Mazda’s president and chief executive officer.


Parker, 55, will succeed Imaki, 60, who was executive vice president and chief engineering and manufacturing officer at Mazda. Previously, Parker was president of Ford’s ASEAN Operations, based in Bangkok.


Booth, a Ford Motor Company vice president, joined Mazda in 2002 as senior advisor of corporate strategy. Prior to that appointment, he was president Asia Pacific and Africa Operations, a position he held from January 2002.

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