DEARBORN, Michigan: The Ford Motor Company has poached Lexus brand chief in the US, Jim Farley (pictured), to become global head of marketing and communications.

Farley's defection is the second high-profile move from Toyota to a Detroit rival. Last month Chrysler Group stunned the automaking industry by appointing the Japanese giant's veteran US head, Jim Press, to lead sales and marketing.

Farley (45) has been with Toyota and Lexus for nearly 20 years. Ford is hoping his expertise will help it regain market share in the US and galvanize the company into "a single global brand idea worldwide".

Data sourced from Financial Times online; additional content by WARC staff