Ford of Britain Names Barratt to Leadership Post

Ford of Britain names Andy Barratt chairman and managing director, succeeding Mark Ovenden, who is heading back to Russia.

Ovenden has been appointed president and CEO of Ford Sollers, the joint venture between Ford and JSC Sollers in Russia. He was given the dual role as chairman and managing director in April 2013.

Ovenden returned to the U.K. as managing director in 2011 after three years as managing director and president of Ford Russia, a role Ford says makes him ideal for his new position.

Barratt became sales director of Ford of Britain in July 2011 after heading the customer-service division. Before that he was a district sales manager.

Jim Farley, executive vice president and president-Ford Europe, Middle East and Africa, says Ovenden improved sales and increased the quality of the automaker’s business in the U.K.

“He is well equipped to deal with the current difficult market conditions in this market as well as the tremendous potential it offers,” Farley says in a statement.