Ford Motor Company today announced that Steven Armstrong, 55, who is chairman, Ford of Europe, has been named president of the Changan Ford joint venture in China. Armstrong succeeds Nigel Harris, 58, who is retiring from Ford at the end of 2019 after 34 years with the company.
Stuart Rowley was named president, Ford of Europe back on April 1, when Steve Armstrong was named Chairman of Ford Europe (and Ford had both there as it was undergoing its latest transformation plan strategy work – Ford Shakes up European and International Markets as CFO Shanks Retires. Restructuring Continues as Stock Languishes). Stuart is now leader in Europe without the Chairman title. The new role for Armstrong will be effective 1 October. He will report to Ford China President and CEO Anning Chen.
Sales of Chongqing-based Changan Automobile dropped in July continuing a trend. During the seven months of 2019, sales dropped more than 60% compared to the same period a year earlier.
Ford’s overall sales dropped 37% in 2018 in the world’s largest auto market, it claimed it was because of a dearth of new products. During the next three years, Ford says it will launch more than 30 new models in China, one-third of them electric vehicles.
Armstrong brings to China more than 30 years of automotive and Ford experience from a variety of general management and purchasing positions around the world. He has served as president and chairman of Ford of Europe, Middle East and Africa; president of Ford South America; chief operating officer of Getrag-Ford Transmissions; and in senior leadership positions at both Jaguar Cars and Volvo Cars.
“Steve’s leadership will help us further strengthen the Changan Ford JV as we bring more new vehicles to the China market, including our first global all-electric small SUV,” said Ford President and CEO Jim Hackett.
Harris held leadership roles in Ford business operations and marketing, sales and service over more than 30 years. Prior to his current role, he served as president of Ford India Private Limited; vice president of Asia Pacific Sales, Services and Distribution; and general manager of Changan Ford Sales Company.
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.
Execs Changed at Changan Ford China JV. European Transformation Ongoing
Ford Motor Company today announced that Steven Armstrong, 55, who is chairman, Ford of Europe, has been named president of the Changan Ford joint venture in China. Armstrong succeeds Nigel Harris, 58, who is retiring from Ford at the end of 2019 after 34 years with the company.
Stuart Rowley was named president, Ford of Europe back on April 1, when Steve Armstrong was named Chairman of Ford Europe (and Ford had both there as it was undergoing its latest transformation plan strategy work – Ford Shakes up European and International Markets as CFO Shanks Retires. Restructuring Continues as Stock Languishes). Stuart is now leader in Europe without the Chairman title. The new role for Armstrong will be effective 1 October. He will report to Ford China President and CEO Anning Chen.
Sales of Chongqing-based Changan Automobile dropped in July continuing a trend. During the seven months of 2019, sales dropped more than 60% compared to the same period a year earlier.
Ford’s overall sales dropped 37% in 2018 in the world’s largest auto market, it claimed it was because of a dearth of new products. During the next three years, Ford says it will launch more than 30 new models in China, one-third of them electric vehicles.
Armstrong brings to China more than 30 years of automotive and Ford experience from a variety of general management and purchasing positions around the world. He has served as president and chairman of Ford of Europe, Middle East and Africa; president of Ford South America; chief operating officer of Getrag-Ford Transmissions; and in senior leadership positions at both Jaguar Cars and Volvo Cars.
“Steve’s leadership will help us further strengthen the Changan Ford JV as we bring more new vehicles to the China market, including our first global all-electric small SUV,” said Ford President and CEO Jim Hackett.
Harris held leadership roles in Ford business operations and marketing, sales and service over more than 30 years. Prior to his current role, he served as president of Ford India Private Limited; vice president of Asia Pacific Sales, Services and Distribution; and general manager of Changan Ford Sales Company.
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.