Ford Motor Company<br /> announced today the appointment of Robert L. Shanks as vice president,<br /> Operations Support, Finance and Strategy, Ford of Europe and PAG.  Shanks, who<br /> previously served as chief financial officer for Ford's Premier Automotive<br /> Group, continues to report to Mark Fields, executive vice president, Ford of<br /> Europe and PAG.  His appointment is effective July 1.<br />     In his new role, Shanks will continue as CFO for PAG, with increased<br /> responsibility for driving Marketing, Sales and Service issues across the PAG<br /> brands, and he will oversee Ford of Europe's finance activities.  He also will<br /> develop and manage the overall Ford of Europe and PAG governance process, and<br /> will contribute to the implementation of a consistent Ford of Europe and PAG<br /> investor relations strategy.  Shanks' overriding responsibility will be to<br /> drive financial methodology, processes, best practices and synergies between<br /> Ford of Europe and PAG.<br />     "Bob Shanks has played a key role in the improvement of PAG's financial<br /> results in 2003, mainly by driving stronger business processes across the<br /> entire PAG management structure," said Mark Fields.  "I know he will continue<br /> to be pivotal in delivering a more disciplined execution of the overall PAG<br /> strategy and business plan.  Now, Ford of Europe will benefit from his<br /> strategic approach."<br />     Shanks is considered a Ford Motor Company business strategy and corporate-<br /> planning expert with extensive global experience.  Prior to his appointment as<br /> CFO of PAG in December 2002, he served as CFO for Mazda Motor Corporation.  In<br /> addition to other finance positions within Mazda, North America and South<br /> America, Shanks also has led finance functions in Taiwan's Ford Lio Ho Motor<br /> Company and in Ford's Asia-Pacific operations.<br />     "During my 27-year career at Ford, I have had a first-hand opportunity to<br /> view the company through a variety of finance-related positions all over the<br /> world," said Shanks.  "These perspectives will be extremely beneficial as I<br /> begin my new role in coordinating efforts between two critical business<br /> segments -- Ford of Europe and PAG.  It will be a challenge, but I am looking<br /> forward to it."<br />     Shanks earned a bachelor's degree in foreign service from Georgetown<br /> University in 1975, and a master's degree in international management from the<br /> American Graduate School of International Management in 1976.  He joined Ford<br /> Motor Company in 1977.<br />     Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn,<br /> Mich., manufactures and distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six<br /> continents.  With more than 327,000 employees worldwide, the company's core<br /> and affiliated automotive brands include Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Land<br /> Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo.  Its automotive-related services<br /> include Ford Credit, Quality Care and Hertz.  Ford Motor Company celebrated<br /> its 100th anniversary on June 16, 2003.