Ford of Europe’s Chairman to Retire; Successor Named

L. Lindsey Halstead, chairman of Ford of Europe Inc., is retiring Jan. 1, the auto maker said Friday. He will be succeeded by Jacques A. Nasser.

Halstead, 62, has spent 40 years with Ford, serving in Latin American, Asian-Pacific, European and North American operations. He is leaving at a time when the company faces financial problems because of the recession and currency problems in Europe and Britain, where Ford is the leading auto maker.

Last month, Ford moved Halstead’s boss, Lou Ross, executive vice president for international auto operations, to a new technical post and replaced him with W. Wayne Booker, who had headed Asian-Pacific operations.

Ford has said it lost money in the third quarter and may lose in the fourth because of weak sales in major markets, including Europe.

Other challenges in Europe include pressure to sell remaining cars in its British inventory that don’t have catalytic converters by the end of the year. Those cars will be banned from sale after the end of the year.

Halstead’s departure also spotlights Nasser’s rising star at Ford. The 44-year-old Australian was elected a corporate vice president and named to replace Halstead as chairman of the vital European subsidiary. He was head of Ford of Australia.

Nasser will be succeeded in Australia by John Ogden, 51, who had been director of car programs for Ford’s North American automotive operations.