Frederiek Toney (pictured) will become Vice President, Ford Customer Service Division and a corporate officer of Ford from September 1st this year. Currently the Executive Director, Global Material Planning and Logistics (MP&L), Toney has been among the key figures in driving change and collaboration in Ford’s North American and global supply chain. His new role will include customer service and spare parts logistics and distribution, but will leave inbound manufacturing logistics and outbound distribution functions in the hands of his successor, who has not yet been named.
Toney takes over from Darryl Hazel, who retires following 37 years with the company, and will have responsibility for part sales and logistics, customer service and relations, warranty administration, service engineering as well as dealer relationships. His first goal in his new role, he told Automotive Logistics, will be to work toward enhancing Ford’s ability to support its dealers.
The function is particularly crucial in the current climate, as service to existing and potential new customers is likely to be one of the most important distinguishing factors in customer’s minds in a US market suffering deep declines, and many dealer cuts.
Toney joined Ford in 2000 after a career at Caterpillar and Honda. He has held numerous positions within Ford logistics and operations in North America, and was named Executive Director, MP&L in November 2005. Last year the position was made into “global MP&L” as Toney became the lead in a more integrated logistics organisation across Ford’s four regional divisions.
That he become the global lead signified Ford’s push to standardise and unify its production, marketing, logistics and product development across the globe, the so-called “one Ford” vision. Toney identifies this work among the important of his recent challenges on the job.
“What we have focused on most of late has been driving common Ford practises across the globe, and we have found some success with that, including a large reduction of all kinds of inventory in the Ford pipeline” he said.
In the years that he has worked in logistics for Ford, Toney has developed a reputation for working well with partners, as well as competitors. He’s been involved with projects that saw service parts logistics combined with production parts, has explored finished vehicle co-loading with other OEMs, and worked closely to extend Ford’s partnership with 3PL and 4PL Ford partners such as Penske and Schneider Logistics. His approach to cutting waste in the supply chain has been both practical and focussed on practical understanding and collaboration between Ford and its LSPs and suppliers. He once said that “it’s better to work with the service provider you know than the one you don’t know.”
Toney will report to Ken Czubay, Vice President of US Marketing, Sales and Service.
Other executives on the move …
GM’s General Director of Global Order Fulfillment, Brian Small, has been appointed to the board of directors at the Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG).
Small’s role at GM includes oversight of the Global Supply Chain Center in GM's Global Purchasing and Supply Chain organisation. He currently oversees global order fulfilment, supply and demand alignment, and GMNA Order Fulfilment operations.
"The appointment of Brian to the board demonstrates AIAG's commitment to and recognition of the need for solutions to drive costs and inefficiencies out of the automotive supply chain," said Brian Vautaw, AIAG board Chairman. "He has extensive experience in supply chain operations with GM and offers practical insight on the current environment and pressing issues facing the industry."
Small began his career with GM in 1979 with the Cadillac division and he has held a wide variety of positions in the following areas including business management, service operations and vehicle distribution.
Bo Andersson, the former GM purchasing chief who left the carmaker last month, was officially elected board chairman of Russian carmaker GAZ Group, where he will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the company. GAZ has been involved with the bid for Opel through its largest investor Sberbank and partner Manga International.
CEVA Logistics has appointed Matthew Ryan as Chief Operating Officer to assume overall responsibility for the FM network, global procurement and the Global Operations team.
Until last year Ryan was Executive VP of World Wide Operations and Logistics at Flextronics International which he joined in 1995.
"Matt brings to CEVA a wealth of operational, supply chain and service focused experience with nearly 20 years in the highly competitive and dynamic environment of global electronics manufacturing and distribution. He has a well deserved reputation for establishing and leading world class, global operations - covering more than 20 countries and four continents", explained John Pattullo, CEO, CEVA Logistics.
Ryan will join the company on 3 August and be based at the Company's head office in Hoofddorp, The Netherlands.
Genuine Parts Company has named Paul D. Donahue President of the Atlanta-based company’s domestic automotive parts division, which distributes replacement parts and accessories for automobiles, trucks, SUVs, farm and other motor vehicles.
Donahue replaces Larry Samuelson, who retired in May after more than 30 years with the company.
Genuine Parts’ automotive division, which operates under the NAPA brand in the United States and Canada, accounts for nearly 50% of the company’s overall business. In his new role he reports directly to Tom Gallagher, Genuine Parts’ Chairman and Chief Executive.
