The CEO of the American automaker Ford Mord, Mark Fields, has been fired. Fields, 56, is retiring after three years as CEO, the company said.

The new head of the company will be Jim Hackett, who headed Ford Smart Mobility, a subsidiary of Ford engaged in promising developments in the field of new mobility - car sharing, calling cars with a driver and autonomous driving.

Introducing the new CEO at a special press conference, Ford Motor Chairman Bill Ford thanked Fields for his service to the company, calling him an outstanding leader and noting the company's strong profitability and cash flow performance during his leadership.

Forbes magazine previously reported that Fields would leave due to a loss of confidence. He has served as the CEO of the automaker since 2014.

Even though Ford expects pretax profit of $9 billion this year, the company's market share has declined. Ford's stock price fell by 40% during Fields' leadership, which was the main reason for the loss of confidence in him, the publication reported. Stock prices declined even during the seven-year period of growth in the US auto market, and Ford itself posted record profits for two years in a row. In early April, Ford's capitalization fell below Tesla's.

Following the announcement of a change in company management, shares rose 2%.

Jim Hackett, 62, has served on the board of directors of Ford Motor since 2013, and since March 2016 has headed Ford Smart Mobility. From 1994 to 2014, Hackett was CEO of pioneering office furniture maker Steelcase, which, like Ford Motor, is based in Michigan. Hackett was invited to take on new directions at Ford by Fields, who praised him as “a visionary leader with extensive experience in business development and engineering,” writes Automotive News .

At the same time that Fields was fired, Ford reshuffled several key employees (appointments effective June 1). Jim Farley, now 54, the head of Ford of Europe, is returning to the United States as president of global markets. Joe Hinrichs (50), president of Ford Americas, will become president of global operations. Marcy Klevorn (57), director of information systems, will become president of the mobility division. Mark Truby will also become the company's new head of public relations, replacing Ray Day, who will remain on an interim basis as a consultant for the company.

Ford operates 62 facilities around the world that produce Ford vehicles and premium Lincoln vehicles. The company employs approximately 202,000 people.

Ford has replaced its CEO