Farley may replace Ford’s Mulally

Ford Motor Co.'s new chief marketing officer, Jim Farley, and the president of its Americas group, Mark Fields, are both on the short list of executives identified by the company to succeed CEO Alan Mulally.

But Ford stressed any talk of Mulally's leaving is "premature."

Joe Laymon, Ford's human resources chief, made public the names on his succession list for Mulally during an interview with Automotive News that was published Monday. Ford confirmed the details of that report, but said such planning is a routine part of corporate business.

"There are no plans right now for Alan's departure," Ford spokeswoman Marcey Evans said.