Ford’s Hinrichs Appointed to Global Position

Ford Motor Co. names Joe Hinrichs group vice president-global manufacturing.

Hinrichs, who will assume his new post Jan. 1, currently serves as vice president-North American manufacturing, where he played an integral role in negotiating a new 4-year labor agreement with the United Auto Workers union.

“Joe has been successful in leading the restructuring of our North American manufacturing operations and was a key participant in the recent contract talks with the UAW,” CEO Alan Mulally says in a statement.

Hinrichs’ new duties will include aligning Ford’s manufacturing and product development on a global scale. Additionally, he will have global responsibility for the auto maker’s material, planning and logistics, production system, and manufacturing business office organizations, Ford says.

“In his new role, Joe will focus on delivering a global manufacturing plan that allows us to improve our efficiency while leveraging our scale worldwide,” Mulally says.

In his global role, Hinrichs, 40, will report to Mulally. In his North American role, he will continue to report to Mark Fields, president-The Americas.

Hinrichs also will head up Automotive Components Holdings LLC, which is composed of orphaned manufacturing plants and other facilities Ford acquired from former subsidiary Visteon Corp. in 2005.