Ford' Motor Co.'s board of directors may vote this month or next to elevate Mark Fields, 51, a 23-year veteran of the automaker who helped lead a transformation of its North American operations from record losses four years ago to record profits this year.
Fields currently is president of the Americas
The promotion would put Fields in line to replace Alan Mulally, 67, widely acclaimed for saving the second-largest U.S. automaker without a federal bailout or bankruptcy. Fields has long been the front-runner to replace Mulally, who is expected to retire at the end of next year, said the person.
Some Ford directors have determined Ford should go public with a succession plan to reassure shareholders and provide promotion opportunities for executives who now report to Mulally, The Wall Street Journal reported separately today.
