Scheele to stay with Ford

Ford Motor Co. is dismissing as speculation British newspaper reports that company president Nick Scheele, 60, will retire before the year is out. The Sunday Times of London cited industry experts in saying that Scheele would retire rather than return to work after he recovers from late-September hip surgery. The Guardian said sources indicated Scheele is leaving because his relationship with CEO Bill Ford soured in April when Jim Padilla replaced Scheele as chief operating officer. Scheele expects to return to work late this month or early in December, said Ford spokesman Jim Bright.