Samardzich also served as executive director, Small FWD and RWD Vehicles, and was chief engineer for Ford’s Automatic Transmission Operations.
Ford Motor Company today announced a realignment of its global Product Development leadership team, naming Barb Samardzich, vice cheap generic klonopin president, Global Product Programs, to the position of vice president, Product Development, Ford of Europe.
Effective Sept. 1, Samardzich, 52, will oversee all Product Development activities in the European region. She will report to Stephen Odell, chairman and CEO, Ford of Europe and Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Global Product Development.
In addition to the Ford of Europe Product Development team, Samardzich will continue to lead Ford’s Global Vehicle Engineering, Noise Vibration and Harshness, and Global Vehicle Evaluation and Verification teams. These teams have reported to her since January.
In her new role, Samardzich replaces Frank Davis, who is on “special assignment” to North America, with no further public details from Ford. Samardzich holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Florida, and master’s degrees from Carnegie-Mellon University and Wayne State University.
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.
Well, not necessarily. Barb’s husband Raul continues to work for Ford. He currently is in a North America-based position, but he will be moving to Europe. The details of his new assignment are still being worked out.
Looks like a demotion to me. What’d she do wrong? Why not include Frank Davis’s new position (if he has one or is just in limbo). Personnel announcements from Ford are always suspect.