MEDFORD, OR – Lithia Motors has appointed A.J. Wagner to its board of directors.

Wagner was the former president of Ford Motor Credit Company North America and a VP of Ford Motor Company from 2003–2006. Prior to that, he worked his way up through the Ford Motor organization over a career that spans back to 1973, according to www.businesswire.com.

Included in that tenure is a four-year period in marketing and sales for Ford Motor Company. Wagner won the 2006 Philip E. Benton Award from the Minority Dealer Association of 350 dealers for fostering diversity and taking support for minority dealers to a new level. He was also names as a Ford Executive Champion for his work with the United Way, Habitat for Humanity, and for Heart Disease Research. He currently sits on the board of directors and the Audit Committee for Walter Industries and recently joined the Advisory Board of Gold Mobile Group. He is president and CEO of AJ Wagner & Associates, LLC, a business consulting organization.

Wagner will fill a vacancy on the Lithia Motors board of directors after health concerns prompted the effective resignation of William Young on Jul. 11.