US auto major Ford today announced top leadership change in its Indian operations, with President and Managing Director Nigel Harris slated to move to China to head the company's joint venture there.
In the interim, starting July 1, Ford India Executive Director (marketing, sales and service) Anurag Mehrotra will oversee the responsibilities of managing director, in addition to his current job, the company said in a statement.
"Nigel's successor will be the subject of a future announcement," the company said, adding that Ford India CFO David Schock will take on additional responsibilities for operational matters.
Harris, who took over as Managing Director and President of Ford India in February 2014, will be moving to a new position as President of Changan Ford, Ford's joint venture in Chongqing, China.
Commenting on the change, Ford Asia Pacific President Dave Schoch said: "Our commitment to building a strong business in India and the Asia-Pacific remains steadfast, and so does our commitment for our people to grow. We have an experienced leadership team in India, and we are confident that we will continue to drive the company forward during this transition."
Although Harris' tenure in India is slated to come to an end later this year, Ford said given his "extensive global experience and in-depth understanding of the Chinese automotive market, Ford leadership and our partners at Changan believe that he is the right leader to take the enterprise forward".
In his previous assignment, Harris also served on the leadership team of Changan Ford as general manager of sales for more than five years.
During his tenure, Harris oversaw the implementation of Ford's expansion plans in India, from the launch of an integrated facility in Sanand in Gujarat to new product launches, including the new Figo hatchback and Figo Aspire compact sedan.
