FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Dearborn-based Ford Motor Co. Monday announced that Kiersten Robinson has been elected Ford group vice president and appointed chief human resources officer, effective April 1. In her new role, Robinson will lead the company’s global people initiatives.
The 23-year Ford employee will report to Ford CEO Jim Hackett.
“As we work to become the most trusted mobility company, designing smart vehicles for a smart world, our people and our culture will be the foundation that ensures we deliver for all of our stakeholders,” says Hackett. “Kiersten has proven herself a strong leader for transformational times, and I have confidence that progress on modernizing our people systems and culture will accelerate under her watch.”
Robinson will oversee all global people processes including talent management, workforce planning, learning and development, recruiting, diversity and inclusion, compensation and benefits, and the dealer policy board. Ford vice president, labor affairs, Bill Dirksen, will matrix report to her.
Prior to this promotion, Robinson worked as Ford’s interim human resources leader. To her new role, Robinson brings global experience in human resources and has worked in Europe, Asia Pacific, and most recently, the Americas.
She began with the company in 1995 as a labor representative in Ford of Australia, and served the first of multiple international assignments in 1997 with the Ford of Europe manufacturing organization. After holding two additional positions in Australia, Robinson served in a number of roles at the company’s headquarters, beginning in 2002. In 2010, Robinson was named vice president of human resources for Ford in Asia Pacific.
While working there, she led the development and deployment of a talent and people resource plan for the operation, which helped to establish Ford’s brand across the 16 markets in Asia. She was appointed to lead human resources for the Americas in 2016, a role that expanded to include global markets in early 2017. In November 2017, Robinson was appointed to interim leader of human resources.
She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Melbourne, Australia, in education and liberal arts. Additionally, she has served on the board for Auto Alliance Thailand, Concordia International School, Shanghai, and Inforum.
Ford Motor Company employs approximately 202,000 people worldwide. The company designs, manufactures, markets, and services Ford cars, trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles, and Lincoln luxury vehicles, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company.
