NOVEMBER 21, 2002

Another management refinement at Ford

The Ford Motor Company has tweaked its top management once again, electing James Padilla and David Thursfield as executive vice presidents. Padilla and Thursfield are the men in charge of the company's automotive units, which gives a clear signal that Ford's aim is to focus on its core business.

The Ford Motor Company has tweaked its top management once again, electing James Padilla and David Thursfield as executive vice presidents. Padilla and Thursfield are the men in charge of the company's automotive units, which gives a clear signal that Ford's aim is to focus on its core business. Both men will continue to report to Nick Scheele, president and chief operating officer of the company.

Thursfield now takes responsibility for the Premier Automotive Group and Mazda while continuing to oversee Ford of Europe, Ford Asia Pacific and Ford South American Operations.

The Premier Performance Division (which oversees Ford's motor racing activities - notably Jaguar Racing, Cosworth Racing and Pi Research) remains under the control of Richard Parry-Jones, Ford's Chief Technical Officer.