Mazda Motor Corporation and Ford Motor Company are jointly announcing the appointment of Gary A. Roe to the position of President and CEO of AutoAlliance International, Inc. (AAI), the Mazda and Ford joint venture manufacturing facility in Flat Rock, Michigan.

Most recently, Roe was Manufacturing Director for Ford Asia Pacific and Africa operations. Roe’s appointment is effective May 1, 2005. He succeeds Philip G. Spender, who has been named president and CEO of Changan Ford, a China-based joint venture between Ford Motor Company and Changan Automobile Group.

Roe, in his new capacity at AAI, will oversee all operations at the Mazda Ford joint venture that currently manufactures the Mazda6 and Ford Mustang.

Roe brings extensive manufacturing and operational experience to his new job at AAI. From September 1998 to June 2001, he served as plant manager at Ford’s Broadmeadows Plant in Australia. Prior to that, he was plant manager for Ford’s Geelong Stamping Plant, also in Australia. He joined Ford Motor Company in 1986.

"Gary has extensive manufacturing experience and an excellent record with both Ford and Mazda, so we expect this transition to be extremely smooth," noted John Parker, executive vice-president of Mazda Motor Corporation and Chairman of the Board of AAI. "The AAI facility is a centrally important plant for both Mazda and Ford in North America, and demonstrates the value of the Mazda Ford partnership."

Parker added, "This move is also beneficial for all parties as Phil will be assuming a new manufacturing role in China and will continue to work with Ford and Mazda. He did an outstanding job during his tenure as president and CEO of AAI, and we believe he will continue this success in China."