Mazda Taps Former Ford Export Chief

Mazda Motor Corp. said it has appointed former Ford Motor Co. export director Richard N. Beattie to oversee and integrate the operations of the five Mazda subsidiaries in North America. Ford is a major Mazda stockholder and last year assumed operational control of the ailing company at the behest of its Japanese financial partners.

Beattie will be headquartered at Mazda Motor of America Inc. in Irvine, the company’s import and distribution arm. The presidents of all five subsidiaries will now report to him instead of directly to corporate headquarters in Hiroshima, said Jay Amestoy, a vice president at Mazda Motor America. The 42-year-old executive in turn will report directly to Henry D.G. Wallace, president of Mazda Motor Corp. in Japan.

Mazda sales in the U.S. dropped by about 16% last year, and industry observers say the company isn’t likely to sell more than 250,000 cars and light trucks this year--its worst performance since 1983. Part of the sales decline is due to a decision last year to slash fleet sales and discontinue several models, including the RX-7 sports car and the 929 luxury sedan.