Hau Thai-Tang, a longtime top executive at Ford Motor Company, and his colleague Frederiek Toney will retire later this year, the company announced Thursday.
Thai-Tang, named chief industrial platform officer in March, will leave Oct. 1 after more than 34 years with the Dearborn automaker, most notably in product development.
Toney, vice president, global Ford Customer Service Division, will retire Dec. 1 after 22 years with the company.
Meanwhile, Dave Bozeman will join Ford on Sept. 1 as vice president of the global Ford Customer Service Division and the Enthusiast Vehicles product line in Ford Blue, which focuses on the gasoline-powered products.
Bozeman has held senior transportation, logistics and engineering roles at Amazon Transportation, Caterpillar and Harley-Davidson.
Ford made the executive announcements in a news release.
‘Totally different talent’
In the news release, Ford praised its departing executives as “highly respected.”
However, the changes follow months of concern voiced by Ford CEO Jim Farley, who said he needed new talent to take Ford into the future and fix longtime concerns that have plagued the company’s finances and customer satisfaction related to recalls and warranty issues.
In March, Ford CEO Jim Farley said the company needed “totally different talent” to compete in the future.
Pivoting from internal combustion engines (ICE) to electric, and dividing the company into gasoline- and electric-focused teams, carries uncertainty and fear, he said in March.
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Thai-Tang had just moved from his role as chief product platform and operations officer to lead product development, supply chain and manufacturing engineering for internal combustion engine products and common systems across classic Ford Blue gas-powered vehicles, Ford Pro business customers and the Ford Model e technology side.
Thai-Tang held “enterprise positions that don’t fall within Ford Blue or Ford Model e and each reports to Farley,” a spokesperson said at the time.
On Thursday, Ford indicated it may have more executive changes, saying in the news release, “It will announce any related leadership changes later.”
Farley said in a statement: “All of us at Ford are extremely grateful to Hau for his unrelenting passion for serving our customers with great products, and his thoughtful and compassionate leadership.”
Thai-Tang said he was proud to leave the company with strong products as he transitions out.
Thai-Tang joined Ford in 1988, working as chief engineer, including heading design, development and launch of the 2005 Ford Mustang. He led Ford’s product development and purchasing organizations as the company launched the new Ford Bronco, Maverick, Puma (not sold in the U.S.), Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning.
Bronco and Mach-E have made headlines for recall issues.
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Toney, who joined Ford in 2000, said he’s proud of having taken care of valued customers. He held leadership positions in logistics, operations and parts and service before taking over management of customer service and becoming a company officer in 2009.
Ford noted in its news release: In 2012, Black Enterprise magazine recognized Toney on its list of 100 Most Powerful Executives in Corporate America. Automotive News magazine named Toney an Automotive All-Star in both 2014 and 2015, and he was honored as an Automotive News Champion of Diversity in 2021.
“He’s also a shining example of an executive who gives generously of his time and talent outside of Ford, serving on nonprofit boards and working tirelessly to advance the causes of women and people of color in the workplace,” Kumar Galhotra, president, Ford Blue, said in a statement.
Bozeman arrives
Meanwhile, Bozeman and his team will be responsible for global parts, accessories and vehicle personalization, material planning and logistics for the Ford Customer Service Division.
Heading the Ford Blue “enthusiast brands” in the U.S. means he’ll oversee Bronco, Mustang and Raptor. The assignment of Bozeman gives Ford Blue operational leaders for each of its key vehicle segments: trucks (Andrew Frick), family (Kiersten Robinson) and enthusiast, Ford said in its release. Bozeman will report to Galhotra.
Background at Amazon
Bozeman brings expertise in delivery.
He most recently was vice president of Amazon Transportation Services, overseeing customer delivery globally.
“I felt a sense of mission and a commitment to positive change from everyone I met at Ford,” Bozeman said in a statement. “I’m a builder and love to innovate, and the opportunity to be part of transforming this great company and improving people’s lives resonated with me as an exciting exclamation point for my career.”
Bozeman, a Chicago native, earned a bachelor’s degree in manufacturing engineering technology/mechanical design from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, and a master’s degree in engineering management from the Milwaukee School of Engineering.
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Contact Phoebe Wall Howard at313-618-1034 orphoward@freepress.com.Follow her on Twitter@phoebesaid. Read more on Ford and sign up for our autos newsletter.