Ford Motor Company has announced leadership changes in the Middle East and Africa as it continues to deliver the company’s One Ford plan for profitable growth.

Jim Benintende, currently president, Ford Middle East and Africa, has been appointed director, US sales support.

Jacques Brent, 46, currently vice president, marketing, Asia Pacific, has been appointed president, Ford Middle East and Africa, effective July 1, 2016.  He will be based in Dubai.

Benintende, 60, joined Ford 40 years ago as an assembly line worker in Mahwah, New Jersey. He progressed through a series of marketing and sales positions from 1984-93 before joining Ford Export and Growth as national sales manager for Saudi Arabia and Egypt in 1993, a position he held until 1997. He also served as Middle East marketing manager from 1996-97 and as the sales manager for the Middle East and North Africa from 1997-2000, becoming managing director, Ford Middle East, in 2000.

Benintende was named president, Ford Middle East and Africa in September, 2013.  Under his leadership, Ford established its MEA headquarters in Dubai, developed a long term regional expansion strategy, grew its retail footprint, started an assembly operation in Nigeria, opened sales and purchasing offices in North Africa and localized the Everest SUV in South Africa.

Brent has worked at Ford for 19 years, beginning his career at Ford of Southern Africa. His career has spanned three continents and multiple Ford-owned brands over the years. He has worked in leadership roles within markets and the various brands with cross functional experience in finance, marketing, sales and general management. - TradeArabia News Service