Ford’s Premier Automotive Group, restructured in September 2001, has axed two general manager roles and reorganised the rest of the North American Aston Martin Jaguar Land Rover (AMJLR) management line-up.
The changes see the British group head of PAG, Mike O’Driscoll, taking direct control of Jaguar and Land Rover, as well as Aston Martin, while Richard Beattie becomes executive vice president of sales and marketing for Jaguar and Land Rover and Steve McKnight, previously Land Rover#;s general manager, becomes VP of remarketing and distribution for AMJLR, reporting to PAG president Mike O’Driscoll.
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This follows the recent announcement where Vic Doolan was transferred from being number two at PAG and put in charge of Volvo in the US.
That resulted in numerous reports suggesting that Doolan was demoted but, according to the Car Connection website, senior PAG officials say it was actually a promotion that put him directly in charge of a brand.
However, the latest reshuffle sees Sue Callaway – the one-time motoring journalist whose recuitment in 1998 by former Ford CEO Jacques Nasser as PAG marketing director and promotion in less than a year to vice-president and general manager was much criticised by her former peers – no longer in charge of Jaguar and out of the company entirely.
“Successfully launching the X-type and new S-type, and expanding Jaguar’s presence in North America has been extremely rewarding,” Callaway said in the official Ford statement announcing the PAG shake-up. “Now that the role of general manager is being eliminated, I feel that it is the right time for me to pursue other opportunities.”
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By GlobalData“We have built a strong organisation in a very short space of time here in North America,” said O’Driscoll in Ford#;s statement. “All three marques grew by over 75% in the first quarter of 2002 and we need to ensure that we have an organisation that is structured to continue this aggressive growth.”
“I also want to thank Sue Callaway for her contribution to this organization. She has been a great product and marketing asset, has lead us through successive monthly sales increases for the Jaguar marque and been a significant contributor to our overall growth in this market, ” O’Driscoll added.
The statement said that neither general manager post at Jaguar or Land Rover would be replaced and the respective vice presidents for marketing would now report directly to Beattie.
Also announced was the appointment of George Ayres to the position of VP, marketing, Jaguar North America, replacing Michelle Cervantez, who was appointed to a new position at Ford last month.
Ayres was previously manager of business strategy for Jaguar North America, and prior to that served in a variety of sales and marketing functions at Jaguar in the UK and Ford in the US.
These changes result in the following new structure for Aston Martin Jaguar Land Rover North America:
Reporting directly to Mike O’Driscoll:
Vic Bernardini; President, Canadian Operations
Richard Beattie; Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing
Geoff Cousins; Chief Financial Officer, Premier Automotive Group NA*
Sally Eastwood; Vice President, Franchise Operations
Marcello Leite; President, Mexican Operations
Mary Magrino; Director, Information Technology, Premier Automotive Group NA*
Steve McKnight; Vice President, Remarketing and Distribution
Mark Redman; Counsel**
Simon Sproule; Vice President, Communications & Marketing Services
Gary Temple; Vice President, Customer Care
John Walton; Vice President & General Manager, Aston Martin
Kathy Weilbacker; Manager, Human Resources
*Also reports to Vic Doolan, President, Volvo Cars North America and Dan Werbin, Executive Director, Premier Automotive Group North America
** Also reports to John Harris, Assistant General Counsel, Ford Motor Company
Reporting directly to Richard Beattie:
Jon Williams; Vice President, Marketing, Land Rover
George Ayres; Vice President, Marketing, Jaguar
Doug Speck; Vice President, Retail Operations
