Ford to promote UK chief

Ford GB’s marketing director Andrea Formica is expected to take on the management of Ford’s Italian operations as part of a wide-ranging reshuffle of Ford executives.

Formica was formerly marketing director of Ford in Italy and although Ford denies it, well placed sources say he is now in line to return there as managing director.

It is unclear where Massimo Ghenzer, the existing managing director of Ford of Italy, is going,

but he has handled pan-European brand development for the company in the past and could be in line for a new role.

Formica has overseen Ford’s 70m marketing budget in the UK since 1997 when he replaced Tom Pallister.

Most recently, Formica handled the UK launch of the Focus, Ford’s replacement for the Escort.

Last month, Ford appointed Nick Scheele, former chairman and chief executive of Jaguar, as its European senior vice-president of marketing, sales and service. He in turn replaced Philipe Mellier, who left Ford for Renault.

Observers believe Scheele is being groomed as the eventual successor to president of Ford Europe Jim Donaldson and that Ford may look for an outsider as Mellier’s eventual replacement.

According to Statistics from the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders, Ford’s share of the UK’s new car market has slipped from 19.6 per cent in 1996 to 17.96 per cent last year.