AutoAlert announced Thursday that long-time Ford Motor Co. executive Jim Benintende has joined the company to serve as its chief operating officer.

At Ford, Benintende oversaw a business unit made up of 67 countries and 3,800 employees as the first president of its Middle East and Africa (MEA) business unit, which he led from 2013 until August of 2016. During that time, Ford's Ranger truck production increased by 46 percent, and exports of the vehicle expanded to 150 countries, according to AutoAlert.

"AutoAlert is fortunate that Jim has joined the team," AutoAlert chief executive officer Mike Dullea said in a news release. "His strategic experience will help guide us as we continue to grow relationships with our current customers, and his experience overseas will help propel our rapid growth in international markets."

Benintende most recently returned to the United States as Ford's Director of Sales Support before retiring from Ford in December of 2016.

He began at Ford as an assembly line worker at the age of 20. And later transitioned into a variety of marketing and sales positions before being promoted to sales manager of export operations of Saudi Arabia and Egypt in 1993. Additionally, he became managing director of Ford Middle East and North Africa in 2002.

"I'm excited to join the AutoAlert team. Its track record of finding a better way to do business, for both dealerships and OEMs, is proven," said Benintende. "My background will hopefully expand the reach of its already successful suite of products and services and continue to bolster its loyal customer base."