DETROIT — Ford Motor Co.’s high labor government is retiring forward of contract talks with the UAW later this 12 months.

John Savona, vice chairman of Americas manufacturing and labor affairs for Ford Blue, will step down in March, the automaker stated Wednesday. His successor can be Bryce Currie, who beforehand was chief manufacturing officer at provider Johnson Controls.

Currie will be a part of Ford on Jan. 30 to make sure a “clean handoff” between the 2 leaders, the corporate stated in a press release. He, like Savona, will report back to Ford Blue President Kumar Galhotra.

Currie will oversee a crew of some 70,000 staff at greater than 30 services, Ford stated. Earlier than his three years at Johnson Controls, Currie spent six years at GE Aviation and 14 years working in manufacturing at TRW Automotive, which is now a part of ZF Group.

“I see this much less about returning to the auto business than being a part of creating one thing new and thrilling,” Currie stated in Ford’s assertion. “Ford helps outline and ship a future made potential by good, linked fuel and electrical automobiles, and that is very interesting to me.”

Savona has overseen Ford’s North America manufacturing footprint since 2021, having beforehand served as director of worldwide manufacturing high quality. His profession at Ford has spanned 33 years, beginning as a safety officer on the Michigan Meeting Plant earlier than advancing by regional and world roles.

“The arc of John’s Ford profession has a storybook high quality, however it’s been actual and vital,” Galhotra stated. “He is extremely regarded by colleagues within the vegetation and all of Ford, and his potential to attach with folks on a really private degree has helped us navigate extraordinary challenges prior to now few years.”

Automotive Information chosen Savona as a Notable Army Veteran in 2021. He joined the U.S. Military after highschool and was stationed in Germany for 3 years earlier than being employed by Ford in 1989.

“I could not have dreamed the place these 33-plus years would take me professionally and personally,” Savona stated in a press release. “It has been a privilege to work at Ford and to develop with and study from so many nice folks, particularly the devoted women and men who make our vegetation go day-after-day.”