Under the new structure, units will organize work by customer type rather than geography, and be more focused on improving operating performance and profitability, Exide said. ``This restructuring brings Exide a culture that is empowered, accountable, more nimble and more aggressive on a global basis. Our Global Business Units will have profit and loss responsibility for their industry segments, without national borders, while benefiting from shared staff services,'' Exide chairman and chief executive, Robert Lutz, said in a statement.

Exide said Lutz would assume the duties of president and chief operating officer on an interim basis following Johnson's resignation. ``Alan is returning to former employer Federal-Mogul, where he will assume considerably expanded duties and responsibilities,'' Lutz said. Federal-Mogul said in a statement Monday that Johnson was returning as executive vice-president for the Americas and Asia.