Ford German Unit Plans to Shrink Management Board - Ford Forums

RPO83 · 09-12-2002, 06:16

Cologne, Germany, Sept. 11 (Bloomberg) -- Ford-Werke AG, the German division of the world's No. 2 carmaker, plans to reduce its management board as current Chief Executive Rolf Zimmermann leaves the company, German magazine WirtschaftsWoche reported, citing the supervisory board.

Bernhard Mattes, Zimmermann's replacement, will be both chief executive and head of sales, the magazine said in a preview of its next edition.

Ford-Werke has said it expects to be profitable this year after a loss of 80 million euros ($78 million) in 2001. The carmaker this year has won market share in Western Europe from General Motors Corp. and Volkswagen AG.

Mattes wants to introduce a minivan to expand Ford's offerings in Europe, the magazine reported, in an article to be published tomorrow.

Stacy94PGT · 09-13-2002, 08:19

COLOGNE -September 12 Dow Jones reported that Ford Motor Co.'s German carmaking arm, Ford-Werke AG , Thursday named management board member Bernhard Mattes as its new chairman, confirming German media speculation.

Ford-Werke said Tuesday that Chairman Rolf Zimmerman would leave the company for personal reasons.

Mattes has sat on the board since 1999, working on strengthening the Ford brand in Germany, Ford-Werke said Thursday in a statement. The 46-year-old executive will continue to oversee sales and marketing.

Zimmerman is to be a partner in a consulting company, Ford-Werke said.