Ford truck-design boss leaves for job outside the industry

Pat Schiavone, Ford Motor Co.'s truck design chief, is leaving the company for a job outside the industry.

Ford spokeswoman Marcey Evans on Monday confirmed Schiavone's resignation, effective Jan. 4. She would not identify Schiavone's new company, other than to say it doesn't compete with Ford.

Schiavone will join appliance maker Whirlpool Corp., said the pickuptrucks.com Web site, which cited sources familiar with the move.

Schiavone, an Akron, Ohio, native who started drawing cars as a 3-year-old, has worked for Ford for 21 years. He has been the company's truck design director for the past several years.

Schiavone played a key role in creating the past three generations of Ford's flagship F-150 pickup. He also is credited with designing the 1994 Mustang.

“Drawing and designing represent the passion in my life,” Schiavone said in a recent Ford biography.

The designer also is a car collector. His biography notes that Schiavone recently sold a vintage Ford Thunderbird convertible and was shopping for a 1960s Ford pickup to make over.

By Amy Wilson- Automotive News