PAG remains a work in progress for Fields.(News)(Premier Automotive Group )(Brief Article)

Automotive News, April, 2004

Byline: Bradford Wernle

When Mark Fields was named to take the top job at Ford Motor Co.'s Premier Automotive Group two years ago this month, some skeptics were puzzled.

Could a young American with no previous experience in luxury brands fill the shoes of his famous predecessor, Wolfgang Reitzle?

The stakes are high. Ford is counting on its luxury brand stable for 30 percent of its target of $7 billion in global profits by mid-decade.

If Fields, 43, succeeds in getting PAG on track to meet that goal, he could rise to the top at Ford.

Last year, PAG reported a $164 million profit compared with a loss of $897 million the year before.

"If Mark can deliver in this assignment, he's got a chance of running Ford Motor...

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