John Mendel, currently Director of Marketing with Ford of Britain, will take up the position of Executive Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Customer Service & Parts, Mazda North American Operations. Brentebråten will retire from Mazda on December 31, 2001. The other two appointments are effective January 1, 2002.

Mazda is entering a vital phase in its turnaround story, launching nine new products in Europe and 11 in North America over the next three years. These appointments will help ensure the success of this new generation of Mazda cars.

David Thomas, Mazda Motor Corporation's Senior Managing Director, Marketing, Sales and Customer Service said: "Steve Odell has played a key role in turning around our business in North America. He takes over a much stronger Mazda Motor Europe, which has gone through a complete re-organization under Jan Brentebråten's leadership and is now positioned for future growth. We now control almost 80% of our volume through our own national sales companies and we're already starting to reap the benefits. Steve will build on these stronger foundations to deliver further successes for Mazda in the future."

Odell was Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Mazda North American Operations, where he was responsible for the company's U.S. sales, marketing, customer service and parts operations. Prior to that he served as the company's Vice President Marketing and Sales. Before joining Mazda in January 2000, Odell had been Vice President Marketing and Sales for Jaguar North America.

A native of Great Britain, Odell has held key sales and marketing positions with Ford of Britain, Ford of Europe, Ford Division and Jaguar. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Studies from Brighton University in England.

Announcing John Mendel, President of Mazda North American Operations Charles R. Hughes said: "It is great to have John Mendel joining us. He brings rich brand experience and has broad regional knowledge of the North American market. One of John's great strengths is his rapport with retailers. I'm sure he will continue to build on the foundation Steve Odell laid with our dealer body and help to cement Mazda's brand revival in North America."

John Mendel began his career with Ford US operations in 1976 and has held numerous sales and marketing positions within Ford, Lincoln Mercury and Ford Customer Service, including roles in Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles. He has served as Director, Marketing, Ford of Britain since 1999.

Thomas said: "Jan Brentebråten has made a significant contribution to Mazda in Europe in the five years he has been with us. As Director, Mazda Motors Deutschland he restructured and turned around the German operation at a critical time. Then, as President of Mazda Motor Europe and a Director of Mazda Motor Corporation, he restructured the organization, making it more customer-focused and pan-European, in line with Mazda's Millennium Plan, and preparing it for future growth. We wish him well in his new role at Ford."