Ford taps Toyota dealer to run sales

Ford Motor Co. has appointed a veteran auto industry insider and Detroit native to head its sales and marketing operations for the Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brands in the United States.

Ken Czubay, 59, will assume the post July 16 and report to Jim Farley, Ford's group vice president of marketing and communications.

Born in Hamtramck and raised in the Detroit area, Czubay graduated from Wayne State University with a bachelor's degree in business administration.

Czubay has 38 years of automotive experience and served in a variety of management and executive roles at Ford from 1970 to 1983.

He rejoins Ford from his current positions as president of Southeast Toyota Distributors LLC, executive vice president of parent company JM Family Enterprises Inc., and president of JM Lexus, the world's largest volume Lexus dealership.

In a statement, Czubay said he was glad to be coming back to the Motor City.

"I am joining Ford for the chance to work with a group of committed, energized colleagues who are really embracing the challenge of restoring a great American icon," Czubay said. "Once you have been at Ford, it's always in your blood. I couldn't be more excited to be coming home." Detroit Free Press