Al Ver To Retire From Ford Motor Company

DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 20 – Al Ver, Ford Motor Company vice president and CEO and COO, Automotive Components Holdings (ACH), has elected to retire at the end of the year, after a 35-year career with the Ford Motor Company.

Ver joined Ford in 1972 as a manufacturing process engineer at the Mt. Clemens (Mich.) Paint Plant. He has held a number of engineering and manufacturing positions within Ford and its component operations during his career. Prior to his current assignment, Ver served as vice president for Ford's Advanced Manufacturing Engineering organization. As the head of ACH, he reported to Mark Fields, executive vice president and president, The Americas.

“Al has consistently contributed to Ford's engineering and manufacturing organizations throughout his career and most recently has done an outstanding job in leading ACH through its transition,” said Fields. “We wish Al and his family well as they move into the next phase of their lives.”

Ver will be succeeded by Bill Connelly, who has been named chief executive officer, ACH. Connelly will retain his CFO responsibilities for ACH. During the transition, Al Ver will report to Alan Mulally, president and CEO, for a special project.

Connelly will lead the Ford-managed, temporary business entity comprised of former Visteon Corp. plants and facilities in the U.S. and Mexico, as it continues preparing the operations for sale or closure by the end of 2008. He will report to Joe Hinrichs, vice president, North America Manufacturing.

“Bill has been with ACH from the start and knows the component businesses within the group, as well as the component industry,” Fields said. “We continue to operate in a very challenging environment, and having Bill at the helm is reassuring to me and everyone on the team.”

Connelly, a retired U.S. Marine Captain, joined Ford's Finance staff in 1972. Throughout his career, he has held a variety of positions within Finance, including controller of Ford's North America Automotive Operations and Ford Customer Service Division, and director of the company's Investor Relations department. Connelly was instrumental in the negotiations to form ACH in 2005, and as its CFO, he has significantly reduced operating costs and helped to progress ACH's restructuring plans.

Source: Ford

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