Fields Follows a Legend Leaving Ford in Prime Condition

When Mark Fields took charge of Ford Motor Co.’s Americas operations nine years ago, it was a major repair job as they descended into record losses and almost dragged the company into bankruptcy.

Today, Ford’s North American operations are the envy of the industry, earning a record operating profit of $8.78 billion last year and profit margins above 10 percent in an industry where 5 percent is respectable.