Ford Motor Company today announced the appointment of Jeffery Nemeth as president and CEO of Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA), effective January 1, 2010. Nemeth is currently president of Ford Lio Ho (Taiwan).
Nemeth will replace FMCSA's current president and CEO, Hal Feder, and will oversee Ford's entire business operations in South Africa with responsibility for growing the Ford, Mazda and Volvo brands. He will also be responsible for directing day-to-day operations of Ford's manufacturing sites in Port Elizabeth and Pretoria, as well as working with key partners in government, media, suppliers and the union.
"Jeff's experience and expertise in corporate strategy and success in strengthening the Ford brand in Taiwan will be a great asset in driving the continued transformation of our South Africa operations into a global production and export hub," said John Parker, executive vice president, APA.
Nemeth has extensive experience in both Asia and North America, having served in senior leadership roles in Management, Finance and Customer Service for Ford Motor Company, Ford Credit and Mazda Motor Corporation in Hiroshima, Japan since joining Ford in 1995.
In his current position as president of Ford Lio Ho, Nemeth has lead a restructuring in the aim of strengthening the company's position in Taiwan and to operate profitably at the market's current level of demand and changing model mix.
Nemeth earned his bachelor's degree in business administration and master's degree in business administration from the University of Notre Dame, U.S.
I wish Jeff all of the very best in South Africa. I hope he will be behind deciding which vehicles Ford vehicle should be sold in this country. South Africans know what they want. For too long we as South Africans have had to accept what Ford wants us to have.
Ford SA has created a few markets, dumped the vehicle and handed that market over to opposition. A good example to this was the Falcon / Fairmont range. FMCSA created the market then handed it on a plate to Chev and Chrysler.
F Series Trucks were sold in RSA from 1948 to 1984 , the same thing has happened, they have been dumped. How about the RHD F150 in a Diesel!
America is not the only Country in the world, Why not assemble RHD F150s in RSA for the world market.
I hope Jeff can change some of the international Ford thinking and let Ford SA decide which vehicles they should import and sell out here. Its the customers who decide the market !!! 
