Ford's communications manager to lead Geely promotion

Shanghai, June 7 (Gasgoo.com) Geely Holding Group, which is buying Ford Motor's Volvo car unit, has hired Kenneth Hsu, former global communications manager of the U.S. automaker to lead Geely's global communication and brand promotion team, Reuters reported today.

An auto industry veteran, Hsu also served as vice president for Ford's China operations. He assumed his new role at Geely last week, the Chinese company said in a statement over the weekend.

Geely Group, parent of Geely Automobile Holdings, signed an agreement with Ford Motor in March to take over Ford's Volvo car business for $1.8 billion, marking the largest ever overseas acquisition by a Chinese auto company. The deal is expected to complete in the third quarter.

Geely is starting to optimize its management structure to get better prepared for fast development of its global operations following the Volvo brand purchase. Geely said it would explore the overseas markets for its own brand while maintaining Volvo's global business.

Geely's chairman Li Shufu is planning a Volvo factory in China which will make 300,000 Volvo-branded cars. Industry experts said the Volvo deal will help Geely promote its global brand.