* Former White House Deputy Counsel David G. Leitch named Ford Motor
Company general counsel and senior vice president, effective April 1.
* Dennis Ross to retire June 1.
DEARBORN, Mich., March 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ford Motor Company
(NYSE: F) today announced it has appointed David G. Leitch as its general
counsel and a senior vice president of the company. Leitch served most
recently as the deputy assistant to President George W. Bush and the White
House's deputy counsel.
Leitch's appointment is effective April 1. He succeeds Dennis Ross, who
will retire June 1. Until then, Ross will continue to report to chairman and
chief executive officer Bill Ford while working on taxes and related issues.
Following retirement, Ross will work for the company as a consultant with a
primary focus on tax issues.
Bill Ford said of Leitch: "David's a brilliant lawyer with a remarkable
record of achievement. His experience at the White House and in the private
sector gives him a perspective that will undoubtedly offer valuable insights
to our leadership team."
Leitch said, "I look forward to joining a company with the history and
global presence of a Ford Motor Company. I see a vibrant future for Ford, as
well as a place where my talents and experience can make a contribution."
Leitch, 44, has had a distinguished career in government and law. In his
most recent role at the White House, he advised the president and his staff on
a variety of legal issues, including issues involving the war on terror,
judicial nominations, legislative proposals and ethics. From June 2001
through December 2002, he served as chief counsel for the Federal Aviation
Administration, overseeing a staff of 290 in Washington and the agency's 11
regional offices. He is also a past deputy assistant attorney general in the
U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Legal Counsel.
Leitch's law career includes serving as law clerk to U.S. Supreme Court
Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, and as a partner in the Washington, D.C.
law firm of Hogan & Hartson, L.L.P. Leitch is a graduate of the University of
Virginia, School of Law, and an undergraduate of Duke University.
"I want to thank Dennis Ross for ten years of service," Bill Ford said.
"His contributions in the tax and legal areas have made Ford a stronger
company."
Commenting on his retirement plans, Ross said, "There are many people I
would like to thank, but I owe a special debt of gratitude to Bill Ford, who
allowed me to grow professionally as a general counsel. I am confident that
under his leadership the company has many great years ahead of it. I hope, in
a new consulting capacity, to continue to make a contribution, while having a
bit more time for family and other pursuits."
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn,
Mich., manufactures and distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six
continents. With more than 324,000 employees worldwide, the company's core and
affiliated automotive brands include Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover,
Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo. Its automotive-related services include
Ford Credit, Quality Care and Hertz. Ford Motor Company celebrated its 100th
anniversary on June 16, 2003.
SOURCE Ford Motor Company
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Related links:
http://www.ford.com
CONTACT:
Kathleen Vokes of Ford Motor Company,
+1-313-322-9210, kvokes@ford.com
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