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.
