By Rebecca Andrews
Staff Writer
Published March 26, 2008

Volvo Cars of North America will relocate its headquarters from Southern California to Northern New Jersey where several other departments currently operate.

The Swedish car company said the North American operations will be more efficient with all departments in one location and nearly 3,000 miles closer to the Swedish headquarters. The cross-country move will affect less than 80 employees, the company said.

Volvo opened its U.S. headquarters in Newark in 1956. It later moved to Englewood Cliffs and then to Rockleigh, where it remained until the move to Irvine, Ca. in 2001.

Doug Speck was also appointed president and chief executive officer. Speck, who joined Ford Motor Co. in 1983, will replace Anne Belec who has been named Ford’s director of global marketing.