• by Karl Greenberg , July 3, 2008

Ford Motor Company has hired auto industry executive Ken Czubay as VP/U.S. sales and marketing. Czubay, whom the company says worked at Ford between 1970 and 1983, was most recently president of Southeast Toyota Distributors, EVP of its parent JM Family Enterprises, Inc., and president of JM Lexus, which Ford says is the world's largest-volume Lexus dealership.

Czubay, who will oversee sales and marketing of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles in the U.S., will report to Jim Farley, Ford group VP/marketing and communications.

The company says that Czubay's focus on domestic marketing operations will free up Farley to work on the "One Ford" global product and marketing strategy. On the product side, Farley will spend more time with Derrick Kuzak, Ford group VP/global product development, per the company.

Farley will also concentrate on Ford's global corporate brand image.

The changes include a shuffling in divisional marketing ranks, reporting to Czubay. John Felice, who until now has been general market manager for Ford, will add Lincoln Mercury marketing to his duties. David Thomas was named to an expanded role of director, North American Order Management and Sales Planning.

Also reporting to Czubay are Randy Ortiz, general sales manager, Ford, Lincoln Mercury and Kevin Koswick, director, North American Fleet, Lease and Re-marketing Organization.

Since working as financial analyst with Ford Motor Credit Company and various positions for Ford Division and Lincoln Mercury, Czubay has been at Nissan North America, served in an executive position with the Suburban Collection, a group of auto dealerships based in Troy, Mich., and Southeast Toyota Distributors.