DEARBORN, Mich. -
Ford said Thursday that two of its officers are retiring early next year, and the automaker also revealed several shifts in its global management team.
Retiring on Feb. 1 is the company’s chief technical officer and vice president of research and advanced engineering, Gerhard Schmidt.
He has been with Ford for 10 years. Paul Mascarenas, Ford’s vice president of engineering, will take Schmidt’s place and report to Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s group vice president of global product development.
Meanwhile, Ford of Europe’s vice president of marketing, sales and service Ingvar Sviggum, plans to retire on New Year’s Day. His replacement is Roelant de Waard, who is Ford of Europe’s vice president of sales.
In addition to de Waard’s new post, he is also made a Ford Motor Co. officer.
He is to report to Stephen Odell, Ford of Europe’s chairman and chief executive officer, and Jim Farley, group vice president of global sales, service and marketing.
“Gerhard has been a visionary leader for research and advanced engineering,” stated Kuzak. “Many of the technologies that are now changing consumers’ views of Ford — EcoBoost, state-of-the-art diesels, SYNC — all had their roots in research and advanced engineering.
“Gerhard’s commitment to customer-driven technology and an unrelenting drive to see that technology in our production vehicles has left a lasting imprint on all of us, and just as importantly, on our processes,” Kuzak added.
Odell noted: “Ingvar has made a huge contribution to Ford in his close to half a century of service with our company. He has a wealth of experience and knowledge that is unrivaled and has shown throughout the years a true passion for the business and a talent for leadership.”
Moving on to discuss changes in its global product development organization, Ford said it made several moves that will be effective Jan. 1.
The company has named Barb Samardzich — currently vice president of powertrain engineering — as the vice president of global product programs.  Hau Thai-Tang — who is the Ford South America Operations’ director of product development — takes on the role of executive director for global product programs.  
Ford of Europe’s vice president of global product programs and product development, Joe Bakaj is filling Samardzich’s spot as vice president of powertrain engineering.
Continuing on, Raj Nair, who is the vice president of operations for Ford Asia Pacific and Africa, is taking over for Mascarenas as vice president of engineering. He has also been elected to be a company officer.
Next, Frank Davis is moving into the role of vice president of product development for Ford of Europe. In this position, he reports to Odell and Kuzak.  His current post is the automaker’s executive director of North America product programs
Ford director of corporate strategy Matt O’Leary is taking Thai-Tang’s role as director of product development for Ford South America Operations. As such, he reports Eduardo Serrano, executive director of Latin America, as well as Kuzak.
“These moves further strengthen our global product development team as we continue to accelerate the development of new vehicles around the world that customers truly desire with the best quality, fuel efficiency, safety, smart design and value,” Kuzak concluded.