For nearly three years, Jim Hackett has worked to revitalize Ford Motor with a few signs of progress on either the company’s bottom line or its stock price.

On Friday, Ford added heft to the top of the company to help Mr. Hackett speed up the automaker’s recovery.

Jim Farley, 57, the current head of new business and strategy, was named to the new post of chief operating officer. He will report to Mr. Hackett and be responsible for all of Ford’s global automotive operations.

The appointment will help Ford “move with urgency to accelerate our transformation,” Mr. Hackett said in a conference call.