Hinrichs has led Ford’s Asia Pacific growth plan for the past three years, overseeing the current construction of nine new plants and spearheading a commitment to bring more than 50 new vehicles and powertrains to the region by mid-decade. He was previously group vice president of global manufacturing, and labour affairs.
Ford said he will now apply his experience to Ford’s Americas operations, focusing on continuing the momentum in North America and building a stronger business in South America.
He replaces Mark Fields who has moved to become the carmaker’s chief operating officer, reporting to Alan Mulally.
Ford is realigning its regional organisation and will now include Africa with Europe and the Middle East, with Asia Pacific becoming a separate area of responsibility.
Stephen Odell has been named executive vice president and president of Europe, Middle East and Africa, moving from his position as group vice president, chairman and CEO, Ford of Europe
David Schoch, currently chairman and CEO, Ford of China, is moving in the position of group vice president and president of Asia Pacific.
Other moves include Jim Farley, who has been named executive vice president of Global Marketing, Sales and Service and Lincoln, and John Lawler who is elected Ford vice president, chairman and CEO of Ford Motor China.
“In addition to fundamentally transforming our company during the last several years, we have strengthened our team with world-class leaders who will enable us to sustain our One Ford journey,” said Mulally. “All of us at Ford remain absolutely committed to continuing to make progress on our One Ford plan, including dealing decisively with near-term challenges, investing for future growth and developing outstanding products with leading quality, fuel efficiency, safety, smart design and value.”
There has also been a reorganisation of responsibilities at French operator SNCF’s Transport and Logistics division Geodis with the appointment of Marie-Christine Lombard as CEO. She replaces Jean-Louis Demeulenaere who is leaving the company to pursue “new projects”.
Lombard was previously chairman and CEO of TNT Express but was appointed to the new role by SNCF Geodis chairman Pierre Blayau in October following her departure from TNT in September. Bernard Bot is acting as interim CEO at TNT Express.
Antony Burgmans, chairman of the Supervisory Board of TNT Express, said that Lombard’s departure had “no bearing” on the company’s intended merger with UPS and said it expected to complete the deal in early 2013 (despite a challenge from the European Commission over concerns for competition in the European market).
"It is regrettable that Marie-Christine has decided to leave TNT Express now,” said Burgmans. “We thank Marie-Christine for her contributions and wish her well for the future. He added that TNT had complete confidence in Bot’s ability to lead the business and see through the merger with UPS.
Lombard joined the company in 1993 when it was still TPG group, becoming TNT in 2005.
Welcoming her at Geodis SNCF, chairman Guillaume Pepy said: “The arrival of Marie-Christine Lombard at the SNCF group as chief executive officer of Geodis will strengthen the teams and ready Geodis for a new phase of profitable growth. She will place all her skills at the service of the Transport and Logistics Division,” he said.
Norbert Dentressangle’s CEO François Bertreau has resigned and been replaced by Hervé Montjotin, head of the logistics provider’s Transport Division.
“I want to thank François Bertreau who, since 2008, has been the architect of the globalisation of our Group and wish him success in his new challenge,” said the company chairman, Norbert Dentressangle. “We say that people are our first asset in our group and we have a new illustration today as members of the Supervisory Board immediately requested Hervé Montjotin to take the chair of the Executive Board of Norbert Dentressangle.”
Montjotin has been with the company since 1995 when he joined as human resources director and, according to Dentressangle, since then he has built up an intimate knowledge of the company.
“Since 2005 he has also demonstrated his qualities as a manager at the head of the Transport Division in a demanding and constantly evolving market,” said Dentressangle. “Hervé Montjotin has all the required qualities to lead the management of Norbert Dentressangle and enable the Group to succeed in its future growth.”
The Executive Board is now made up of Montjotin and Patrick Bataillard, chief financial officer. New members of the Executive Board will be appointed during the company’s next Supervisory Board meeting to be held on 20th November.
DB Schenker Logistics has appointed Dr Thomas Böger to its management board where he will be responsible for the Contract Logistics/SCM Division in the Central Europe region
“As an expert with experience in the automotive sector, Dr Thomas Böger will help us tailor our service portfolio even more closely to changing customer needs,” said Thomas Lieb, chairman of the management board of Schenker AG.
Dr Böger was most recently head of Logistics Sales Companies at automotive lighting and electronics component supplier Hella.
He has also held senior logistics roles at leading parts suppliers Brose and Johnson Controls.
Sovereign Business Integration has appointed Antony Yiakoumi as automotive account manager to promote the company’s products and services with the aim of further developing the scope of its automotive services.
According to Sovereign, Yiakoumi brings with him a wealth of knowledge about the automotive supply chain and logistics industry from both an academic background and through analysis of the automotive industry in China. (Regular readers of Automotive Logistics and attendees to our conferences may also recognise the name).
Richard Barker, CEO, Sovereign Business Integration Group, comments, “We are delighted to have Antony joining our team,” said Sovereign’s CEO Richard Barker. “His knowledge of the automotive industry provides valuable insight into how we can further our working practices and continue to deliver at the highest possible standard as an organisation.”
Commenting on his role, Yiakoumi said: “I am delighted to be working with Sovereign and can’t wait to put my industry knowledge into building and further developing relationships with new and existing clients.”
Peter Jones is retiring as chief executive officer of Associated British Ports (ABP), the UK’s largest port owner and operator and will be replaced by James Cooper, who has served as a non-executive director since May 2007.
James Cooper is currently a director of Infracapital, the European infrastructure fund of M&G Investments, one of the four investors in the Admiral Consortium that acquired ABP in 2006. He will join the team at ABP on 1 March 2013 and will assume responsibility as CEO from the beginning of April.
“It has been a privilege to serve as ABP’s chief executive for the last six years,” said Jones. “We have a strong, motivated team of people at ABP who will ensure that the business continues to prosper. I wish James, who I have known for nearly 20 years, all the best for the future.”
In a statement ABP said that both it and the port industry as a whole had faced the most challenging economic conditions in living memory and yet over recent years but that under Jones's leadership, the company has continued to deliver consistent growth.
“Peter leaves a business that is well placed to face the challenges of the future while ABP’s opportunities for growth have never been greater,” said the statement.
