Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.latimes.money From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Ford Directors May Pick New Chairman This Week Date: Wed, 11 Nov 92 11:08:11 EST Message-ID: HEADLINE: Ford Directors May Pick New Chairman This Week Publication Date: Tuesday November 10, 1992 BYLINE: Ford Motor Co. directors may tip their hand this week as to who will lead the nation's second-largest auto maker after Chairman Harold Poling retires next year. When the board meets Thursday in Dearborn, Mich., it may decide who will run the company for 10 years while the next generation of Ford heirs gains enough experience to assume control. Poling, 67, has said he will retire sometime next year. Executive moves, when they come, are expected to involve splitting the chairman and chief executive's jobs, as General Motors Corp. did last week. Poling now holds both top spots at Ford. But observers expect the atmosphere at Ford to be much calmer than at GM, where Robert Stempel was forced out amid news reports that the board had lost faith in him. "The Ford board is completely confidential," said Eugene Jennings, professor emeritus at Michigan State University and an adviser to members of numerous corporate boards. "I don't see them casting about to rationalize its changes like GM did through a series of news leaks." Ford itself was not forthcoming about any changes. David Scott, vice president for public affairs, said the company "doesn't comment on speculation." Some analysts say Alexander Trotman, 59, executive vice president in charge of Ford's North American operations, has become the favorite to become chief executive. He has operating experience in Ford's three major geographic markets--Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America. Allan D. Gilmour, 58, i This article is copyright 1992 The Los Angeles Times Home Edition. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM