STEPHEN ODELL NAMED CHAIRMAN-ELECT FORD OF BRITAIN
BRENTWOOD, Essex, 28 April, 2005 – Stephen Odell has been named chairman-elect of Ford of Britain. Roger Putnam, 59, the present chairman, has announced his intention to retire after an illustrious career in the motor industry spanning 40 years.
London-born Odell, 50, currently director and senior managing executive officer in charge of marketing, sales and customer services at Mazda Motor Corporation in Japan, will take up his new position on July 1.
In his new role he will gradually assume the responsibilities of the chairman, forming high-level contacts with the government, trade bodies and other NGOs, while overseeing the sales, marketing, retail operations and after sales functions of Ford of Britain. Paul Thomas continues as managing director, responsible for all day to day operations.
Roger Putnam was appointed chairman, Ford of Britain, on March 1, 2002. He began his career at Lotus in 1966 in sales before moving to public relations then marketing, before being appointed director sales and marketing, a global role, in 1976.
In 1982 he joined Jaguar as director, marketing and UK sales operations, before being appointed to the board in 1986 as director, sales and marketing. At that time he was also appointed to the boards of Jaguar subsidiary companies in Europe and Japan.
While at Jaguar Roger totally restructured both the UK and international dealer and distributor networks, moving the brand into new markets as well as playing a key role in the team that launched some of Jaguar's most important recent models, including the XJ8, XK8 and the current S-TYPE and X-TYPE.
Between 1986 and 1991 he was responsible for the company's motorsport programmes which resulted in three World Sportscar championships, two wins at Le Mans and two at Daytona in the USA.
"Roger has done a superb job of raising the profile of Ford in Britain over many years," said Lewis Booth, chairman and CEO, Ford of Europe. "From his time at Jaguar, he became a highly influential figure in British industry, working closely with the SMMT, the CBI, and the Government on key issues relating to the future of automotive manufacturing, research and development, and distribution.
"Roger is a great ambassador for Ford and, in planning this management transition through his coming retirement, we can develop further our strong reputation in Britain.
"Steve Odell will bring to his new role a great deal of international automotive experience, which will prove invaluable to Ford of Britain," Booth added. "He will make a great chairman."
Prior to his current assignment Steve, who is married and with two children, was president, Mazda Motor Europe and has previously held marketing and sales positions in Ford in North America, Jaguar and Ford of Europe.