
Mike Bannister.
Ford Motor Company today announced that Mike Bannister, executive vice president and chairman and CEO of Ford Credit, will retire effective 1 January 2013, after 39 years of employment.
Bannister, 62, will be succeeded by Bernard Silverstone, 56, who becomes group vice president and chairman and CEO of Ford Motor Credit Company.
Bannister was appointed Ford Credit chairman and chief executive officer in 2004, and is said by Ford to have improved efficiency, and sharpened the focus on supporting Ford and Lincoln vehicle sales. Before being named chairman and CEO, Bannister was president and chief operating officer of Ford Credit. He also served as president of Ford Credit International, leading the company’s operations in Asia Pacific, Europe and Latin America. Before that, he was chairman of Ford Credit Europe. He joined Ford Credit in 1973.
“It has been an honor and privilege to work with a great team over the years around the world in building our outstanding auto finance organization,” Bannister said. “The company is well positioned and ready to help write the next chapter of the Ford story.”

Bernard Silverstone.
Silverstone was named to his present position as chief operating officer of Ford Credit in January. He previously led Ford Credit’s marketing and sales operations globally and the company’s International Operations, which covers all Ford Credit business outside the U.S. and Canada. Before that, he served as chairman of Ford Credit Europe. Silverstone joined Ford Credit Britain in 1979 and held a wide variety of staff, operations and leadership positions in the North American, European and Asia Pacific regions.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.