Ford names Dianne Craig to head U.S. sales; Mark Buzzell named CEO of Canada unit

DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co. today named Dianne Craig, head of the company’s Canada division, as its new U.S. director of sales effective Jan. 1.

Craig replaces Dave Mondragon, 56, director of U.S. sales since November 2013. Mondragon will become director of retail strategy and innovation on Jan. 1, a Ford spokesman said.

Craig has been Ford of Canada’s president and CEO since November 2011, when she took that post from Mondragon. She will be succeeded by Mark Buzzell, general manager for the U.S. western market area.

“Dianne Craig’s outstanding contributions at Ford of Canada make her the right person to help build future sales success in the U.S.,” Joe Hinrichs, Ford president of the Americas, said in a statement.

Craig, 52, was named one of Automotive News’ 100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry last year.

Craig will take over the U.S. role as auto sales stagnate following six years of growth. Ford’s U.S. sales are down 0.6 percent on the year to 2.16 million units through October, as slow car demand offsets gains in light-truck sales.

The Ford brand has led Canada in sales for the past five years under Craig’s leadership, the automaker said, although Fiat Chrysler Automobiles won the overall title last year for the first time.

“While the sales leadership title is a nice pride point for our dealers and employees, what I consider our greatest accomplishment is how we achieved that success. We are the best-selling brand due to an unwavering focus on what is best for our customers,” Craig said in a statement from Ford.

The automaker’s Canadian sales are down 4.6 percent on the year through October to 278,437 units, compared with a 2.5-percent gain in Canadian sales for the industry as a whole.

Tony Faria, co-director of automotive and vehicle research at the University of Windsor in Canada, said Craig has done “a good job in Canada” but said she may also have benefited from a popular lineup of Ford vehicles throughout her tenure.

“The F-150 is Canada’s No. 1 selling vehicle,” Faria told Automotive News Canada. “That certainly gives her a leg up on sales.”

Craig joined Ford in 1986 and has held several marketing and sales positions, according to a biography on the automaker’s website. Before becoming Ford of Canada CEO, Craig was general manager of the U.S. southeast market area and was head of U.S. dealer relations for Ford, Lincoln and Mercury.

Craig graduated from the State University of New York and has a master’s degree in business administration from Ohio State University.

Buzzell, Craig’s successor, joined Ford in 1989 and has held a variety of sales, marketing and service positions with the company.

“Based on my own experience at Ford of Canada, I know that Mark Buzzell is a perfect fit to lead the organization as it continues to put the customer experience first and build a strong future for its employees, dealers and communities,” said Hinrichs, who was CEO at Ford of Canada in 2005.