Ford China chief's abrupt departure a blow to recovery hopes

Beijing

FORD Motor Co said its China chief, Jason Luo, has stepped down after only five months at the helm for personal reasons, a sudden resignation that raises questions over how the carmaker will best tackle a sales slump in the world's biggest car market.

Mr Luo had been poached from Key Safety Systems, and it had been hoped that he would reprise his work at the car parts maker where he engineered a significant surge in China revenue.