Ford didn't waste anytime filling the void left by Raj Nair's dismissal as Ford North America's leader. Within one day of the announcement of Nair's dismissal due to "inappropriate behavior," Ford appointed Kumar Galhotra as the new group vice president and president, Ford North America. Galhotra is a Ford lifer, having moved up the ranks over 29 years. He's work his way through engineering and strategy roles, and proved his merit in various global markets.

Most recently, he was at the helm of Lincoln and drove the brand to renewed success with the launch of the Continental and Navigator, both which wear a new styling direction that finally seems to be gaining traction. After years of languishing, Lincoln saw three years of growth and then held steady this past year-no easy task in a highly competitive luxury market. Jim Farley, Ford global executive vice president and president, showered Galhotra with praise upon the announcement. "Kumar is an incredibly talented executive with a special feel for product and brand. He is also a seasoned leader who knows how to drive a business transformation," Farley said.

Filling Galhotra's shoes as group VP, Lincoln Motor Company and chief marketing officer will be Joy Falotico, moving up from her role as group VP and chairman and CEO, Ford Motor Credit Company, and there were several other moves bumping veteran Ford executives up the ladder. While Ford experienced steady growth in the first half of the past decade, sales have stalled over the past couple years, but it remains to be seen if Ford President and CEO Jim Hackett's focus on mobility will produce tangible results. He stressed that these moves help build toward Ford's "vision of becoming the world's most trusted mobility company, designing smart vehicles for a smart world."