BRENTWOOD, Essex, 01 March, 2018 – Wallace Yearwood has been appointed Ford Bridgend Engine Plant Manager, replacing Ian Pearson, who departs to become Craiova Plant Site Director and President of Ford of Romania Board of Directors.
Wallace Yearwood was previously Director Asia Pacific Powertrain Manufacturing Engineering based in Shanghai, and has held a number of senior positions within Powertrain Operation, including Assistant Plant Manager Dagenham Engine Plant, Plant Manager Struandale Engine Plant, South Africa and Plant Manager Sanand Engine Plant, India.
Wallace, returning to South Wales where he started his career with Ford in 1999 as a Lean Advisor, said: “This is an important time for the plant and I’m excited to be back and working together with the whole Bridgend team again.”
Ian Pearson, the former Bridgend Plant Manager, returns to Craiova where he had previously been responsible for running Craiova Powertrain Operations from 2011 to 2014. He replaces John Oldham who returns to the UK as Manager Transportations Europe, responsible for all logistics and transportation related activity for Ford in Europe.
In addition to these announcements Josephine Payne, currently Area Manager Dagenham Engine Plant, is appointed Plant Manager Craiova Engine Plant. Josephine, recongnised by Autocar’s “Great British Women in the Automotive Industry”, brings a wide breadth of experience from her previous positons in Europe and the US in both Powertrain Operations and in Powertrain Manufacturing Engineering.
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About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles and Lincoln luxury vehicles, provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification, autonomous vehicles and mobility solutions. Ford employs approximately 202,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.
Ford of Europe is responsible for producing, selling and servicing Ford brand vehicles in 50 individual markets and employs approximately 54,000 employees at its wholly owned facilities and approximately 69,000 people when joint ventures and unconsolidated businesses are included. In addition to Ford Motor Credit Company, Ford Europe operations include Ford Customer Service Division and 24 manufacturing facilities (16 wholly owned or consolidated joint venture facilities and eight unconsolidated joint venture facilities). The first Ford cars were shipped to Europe in 1903 – the same year Ford Motor Company was founded. European production started in 1911.
