FORD RESHUFFLES THE ASIA PACIFIC AFRICA TOP EXECUTIVES- INDIA GETS NEW VP-SALES

Ford has announced a major reshuffle of key executives in ASIA PACIFIC and AFRICA (APA) operations. These reshuffle is promoted to strengthen the regional sales in the targeted key markets.

Among the changes are  new country presidents for Japan and Philippines, a new leadership post within Ford`s JV in China, Changan Ford Mazda Automobile(CFMA)  and a key international development assignment. India gets a newly promoted sales head Mr N Raja who served as general manager of sales.

List of changes to executive personnel

• Randy Krieger is appointed president of Ford Group Philippines, replacing Rick Baker. Krieger previously served as president of Ford Japan.

FORD POSTS $ 2.1 BN PROFIT: EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS

Here comes the good news again, Ford has posted a net profit of $2.1 bn in the first quarter. And friends here I am not talking about Ford India, its the global industry picking up and sales are booming all around the world. This is happening after six long years after 2004 that Ford has posted more than $ 2 bn profit. Back then the company sold nearly 17 million vehicles in US alone. This year however the sale for the  entire industry is below 12 million. Still the automaker plans to produce nearly 625,000 vehicles to sell in U S and Canada in the next quarter. This will be 9% more than first quarter and 39 % more than last year.

Company has deeply shrunk the operations by closing plants and the staffs are very less compared to last year. This was company`s fourth consecutive quarterly profit, shows how much Ford has managed to pick up the momentum with the new products. The net profit was equal to 50 cents a share, compared with a loss of $1.4 billion, or 60 cents a share, one year ago. Based on its first-quarter results, Ford expects solid profits and positive cash flow from its automotive operations for all of 2010, a year ahead than it had forecast.