Ford rolls on its 'Way Forward'

BUENA PARK, Calif.

As some encouraging signs start to emerge from Ford Motor's turnaround plan, much of the credit is likely to go to Mark Fields.

Fields, an executive vice president, is Ford's domestic car and truck chief. But he's not as stiff as his title might make him sound: His cellphone ring tone plays a song from the old rock group AC/DC.

Ford surprised analysts by posting a $100 million first-quarter profit. It did it, in part, by cutting 40,000 jobs since 2005 and vowing to better coordinate its production around the world. One show of confidence came from billionaire Kirk Kerkorian, who announced he has taken a 4.7% stake in Ford stock and signaled he intends to buy more.

Ford's ongoing Way Forward recovery plan -- with full-year profitably promised for 2009 -- has run head-on into an economic slump that ...