IRVINE, CA: Ford veteran Jim Trainor has resigned as Lincoln Mercury public affairs manager to take a new post in Chicago as VP, PR and communications for SIRVA, a global relocation, moving, and logistics company headed by Brian Kelley, former president of Lincoln Mercury.
Trainor had held the top Lincoln Mercury PR position since summer 2000, and his move has kicked off a series of personnel changes in Ford Motor's PA staff. Replacing Trainor is Dan Bedore, formerly Ford's product-development public affairs manager at company headquarters in Dearborn, MI. Replacing Bedore is Dave Reuter, ex-financial news public affairs manager. Replacing Reuter is Marcey Evans, who was formerly quality public affairs manager.
Ford also announced several other PR appointments and changes, unrelated to Trainor's arrival. Jon Pepper, a former Detroit Free Press reporter and Detroit News business columnist, has joined the company as director of integrated communications, reporting to public affairs VP Jim Vella.
Additionally, Mark Schirmer has moved to Mazda's communications operation in Hiroshima, Japan as deputy GM. His previous spot as Ford Car public affairs manager has been taken by Lincoln Mercury's product development public affairs manager Jim Cain. Mike Vaughan, Ford Truck public affairs manager, replaces Cain.
