Ford in the News

As of late, Ford news has surrounded the firm announcement created earlier this year pertaining to the retirement of longtime Ford executive, Greg Smith.  Soon after starting out as an engineer with truck operations in 1973, Smith was atop Ford news as he moved up to Vice Chairman soon after more than 30 years with the company.  Now, after 32 years of service, Smith has announced his retirement successful March 1, 2006.  

“Greg has contributed tremendously to Ford Motor Company in several areas, such as leading the turnaround at Ford Motor Credit,” admits Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bill Ford.  “His deep information of all aspects of the organization has been very valuable as we’ve developed our plans for the future, and I’m pleased he will stay with us in a consulting role.”

Upon joining Ford in 1973 as an engineer with truck operations, a recent Ford news release explains that Greg Smith also held several engineering and item planning positions inside the organization.  In 1985, Smith moved to the Ford Division as Truck and Powertrain Marketing Plans manager before becoming the manager of Vehicle Advertising Plans.  Finally, he accepted the position of Central Region Marketing manager.  Smith later went from the Ford Division to the Lincoln Mercury Division, which is where he became the Dallas District Operations manager.  

After returning from Dallas in 1990, Smith was named Director of Technique and Advanced Planning for vehicle product development.  Just 3 years later, in 1993, he was promoted to executive director of Strategic Planning and External Affairs for the Ford Monetary Services Group.  Following that, Smith was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer of Ford Motor Credit prior to being named the Chairman and CEO of Ford Motor Credit.  In 2004, he became a firm Executive Vice President and President of the Americas, which is a position that he held until he was elected Vice Chariman.

“Greg’s respect for his fellow employees and his leadership behaviors are well identified and highly regarded all through the business,” said Jim Padilla, Ford Motor Business president and Chief Operating Officer.  According to a recent Ford news release, Padilla added, “We appreciate his many contributions and will greatly miss his expertise and insight.”

As Vice Chairman, Smith was responsible for a assortment of organization operations, such as the direction of central corporate staffs.  Among others, he was responsible for directing the departments of Human Resources and Labor Affairs, Corporate Technique and Info Technology and Automotive Technique.  As Vice Chairman, Greg Smith was a standard participant in Ford news releases, as well as being in charge of guiding Ford Motor Company’s strategic development, considering and enforcing key decisions and defining it’s future monetary services.        
From new automobiles to racing and even to retirement, Ford news is widely read by auto enthusiasts worldwide.  Wherever automotive happenings occur, it is practically specific to incorporate some type of Ford news in the mix.