William Clay Ford Jr.
Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board of Directors
Ford has been a member of the company’s board of directors since 1988, and has been chairman since Jan. 1, 1999. He also serves as chairman of the board’s Finance Committee and as a member of the Sustainability Committee. He served as CEO from October 2001 to September 2006. During his time in that position Ford took the company from a $5.5 billion loss in 2001 to three straight years of profitability. Ford joined the company in 1979 as a product-planning analyst. He held a variety of positions in manufacturing, sales, marketing, product development, and finance. In 1983 he began a one-year course of study as an Alfred P. Sloan fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. As head of Business Strategy for the Ford Automotive Group in 1990, Ford helped develop guidelines for establishing low-volume manufacturing plants in emerging markets. Ford is also vice chairman of The Detroit Lions Inc., chairman of the board of the Detroit Economic Club, and is a trustee of The Henry Ford. He was elected a Ford Motor Co.vice president in 1994, and is the great-grandson of company founder Henry Ford.
Mark Fields
President and CEO
Fields has been president and CEO since July 1, 2014. He was also elected to the board of directors in 2014 and serves on the finance committee. Fields served as chief operating officer since December 2012, where he led the company’s weekly Business Plan Review meeting to track the progress of the One Ford plan and to monitor the global business and competitive environment. The meetings are credited with driving a reliable and transparent process for running Ford’s global operations and enabling Ford’s senior leadership to work closely together and act decisively on its plan. Before serving as COO, Fields was executive vice president and president, the Americas, since October 2005. He led development, manufacturing, marketing, and sales of Ford and Lincoln vehicles in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and South America, overseeing the transformation of the company’s North American operations and record profitability. Earlier, Fields guided the product-led transformation of Ford’s European operations and formerly held European luxury brands, as well as the re-launch of Ford’s independent operations in Argentina and a major restructuring and product renaissance at Mazda.
James D. Farley Jr.
Executive Vice President; President, Europe, Middle East, and Africa
Farley is responsible for accelerating Ford’s transformation in Europe, executing the One Ford plan to achieve profitable growth through an unprecedented focus on new products, a strong brand, and increased cost efficiency. As executive vice president of global marketing, sales, and service, he led Ford’s drive to connect more closely with customers through integrated global marketing, advertising, digital communications, and brand development. Farley also has led the ongoing transformation of the Lincoln brand.
Joseph R. Hinrichs
Executive Vice President; President, The Americas
Hinrichs is responsible for all development, manufacturing, marketing, and sales of Ford and Lincoln vehicles in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and South America. Prior to this, he served as group vice president and president of Asia Pacific Africa where he oversaw the construction of nine new plants and spearheaded Ford Motor Co.’s commitment to bring more than 50 new vehicles and powertrains to the region by mid-decade. Hinrichs served as chairman and chief executive officer of Ford China from November 2010 to December 2011.
Raj Nair
President; Chief Technical Officer, Product Development
Nair began his new role in December 2015, and has global responsibility for all aspects of the company’s design, engineering, research, and product development. Since April 2012, he had been group vice president of product development and CTO. Prior to 2012 as vice president of engineering for product development, Nair oversaw all engineering for car, truck, and SUV vehicles for the Ford and Lincoln brands, and was responsible for delivering on Ford’s commitment to offer more new products faster than ever before.
Stephen T. Odell
Executive Vice President; Global Marketing, Sales and Service
Odell leads the company’s marketing, sales, and service organization with the objective of building the Ford and Lincoln brands globally through innovative digital communications and transforming the retail experiences. Odell had led Ford’s European operations since 2010 in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. He was instrumental in the development and implementation of Ford’s European transformation plan and the strategic development of the company’s Middle East and Africa operations.
Robert L. Shanks
Executive Vice President; Chief Financial Officer
Shanks has overall responsibility for Ford’s financial operations, including the controller’s office, treasury, and investor relations. He also oversees Ford’s global data and analytics team. He served previously as the company’s vice president and controller. Shanks was elected vice president, operations support, finance and strategy, Ford of Europe and Premier Automotive Group, in 2004. In that position, he led financial methodology, processes, best practices, and synergies between the two entities. He also was Mazda Motor Corp.’s CFO.
John Casesa
Group Vice President; Global Strategy
Appointed in March 2015, Casesa is the most senior leader overseeing global strategy and corporate development as part of the company’s commitment to accelerate its One Ford plan, deliver product excellence, and drive innovation. Previously, he was senior managing director at Guggenheim Partners, where he led the firm’s automotive investment banking activities and advised the auto industry’s leading companies and investors in connection with mergers, acquisitions, and raising of capital. Earlier, he was a product-planning analyst at General Motors.
Raymond F. Day
Group Vice President; Communications
Day leads all global external and internal communications and public relations activities. This role includes building Ford’s reputation globally and reaching audiences that include customers, employees, dealers, suppliers, news media, communities, governments, and policymakers. Day joined Ford Motor Co. in 1989 and leads Ford’s global communications and public relations activities related to the company’s products, design, manufacturing, sales, marketing, brand development and corporate issues. Earlier in his career, he was a newspaper reporter and editor in Detroit.
Felicia J. Fields
Group Vice President; Human Resources and Corporate Services
Fields provides expertise in key HR capabilities including succession planning and talent management, strategic workforce planning, compensation and benefits, organization development, recruiting, and leadership and professional development. She is also responsible for corporate security, travel, and the company’s Dealer Policy Board. Fields was recognized by Black Enterprise magazine in 2015 as one of the “Most Powerful Women in Corporate America.” She has various certifications in leadership development, personal effectiveness and diversity.
Bennie E. Fowler
Group Vice President; Quality and New Model Launch
Fowler reports directly to Ford President and CEO Mark Fields, and is responsible for driving quality processes and discipline throughout the design and production of Ford vehicles. He is also accountable for global new model launches and for ensuring alignment with product development, manufacturing, purchasing, and marketing. With more than 30 years experience in the auto industry, Fowler has held key positions in several of Ford’s business operations. He joined Ford as a superintendent at St. Thomas Assembly Plant in 1990 from Chrysler Corp.
Bruce Hettle
Group Vice President; Manufacturing and Labor Affairs
Effective Jan. 1, Hettle began his new role replacing John Fleming, who retired. Previously, Hettle was vice president of North America Manufacturing, and oversaw Ford’s product expansion in North America and the company’s conversion to global platforms. In his new role, Hettle, who has more than 30 years of experience, is responsible for overseeing the global operations of 67 assembly, stamping, and powertrain plants. He is also is responsible for the company’s worldwide engineering support for stamping, vehicle, and powertrain manufacturing.
​Ziad S. Ojakli
Group Vice President; Government and Community Relations
Ojakli leads a team that helps shape policy and legislation that promote Ford’s core business objectives, including areas of energy and the environment, tax, international trade, driver safety, and improvements in the nation’s health care systems. He oversees interactions with governments in 110 markets around the world and is responsible for Ford’s federal and state government relations in the U.S., as well as the company’s community relations. Ojakli oversees the Ford Motor Co. Fund, and chairs Ford’s Political Action Committee.
David L. Schoch
Group Vice President; President, Asia Pacific
Schoch is based in Shanghai and is responsible for all of Ford’s operations and partnerships in the Asia Pacific region. Previously, he was chairman and CEO, Ford Motor China, where the automaker has invested more than $4.9 billion to build eight factories, introduce 15 new vehicles, and to double capacity. Schoch has also served as controller, The Americas, and executive director, Ford Canada, Mexico, and South America Operations. He also served as CFO and vice president of strategic planning for Ford of Europe and was CFO of Ford Asia-Pacific Operations. He joined Ford in 1977.
Bernard B. Silverstone
Group Vice President; Chairman and CEO, Ford Motor Credit Co.
Silverstone oversees one of the world’s leading automotive financial services companies, supporting the sale of Ford and Lincoln products and supporting Ford’s growth plans. Ford Credit provides financing to more than 3.8 million customers and 5,200 dealers in about 100 countries. Silverstone was COO of Ford Credit before becoming chairman and CEO in 2013. Previously, he led Ford Credit’s global marketing and sales and the company’s international operations, which covered business in Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America.
Hau Thai-Tang
Group Vice President; Global Purchasing
Thai-Tang’s global purchasing organization is responsible for more than $90 billion in annual spending on production and non-production goods and services around the world. Previously, as vice president, engineering, for global product development, he oversaw engineering for car, truck, SUV, and crossover vehicles for the Ford and Lincoln brands. He had served as executive director, global product programs, developed vehicles for the South American market, and led the development of FSAO as an engineering center for Ford in The Americas.
Steven Armstrong
Vice President; President, Ford South America
Based in Sao Paolo, Brazil, Armstrong is responsible for all Ford operations in South America. A native of the United Kingdom, Armstrong has worked in the U.S., Sweden, and Germany. He served as president of Ford of Brazil since June 2012. Armstrong also served as chief operating officer of Volvo Cars, where he oversaw the company’s divestiture to Geely Automotive Holdings Ltd. He also was responsible for major quality and cost improvements, and led the development of the S60 and V60 vehicle lines for the automaker.
Joseph Bakaj
Vice President; Product Development, Ford of Europe
Bakaj is responsible for all product programs for Ford’s European operations. He has worked in Britain, Germany, Japan, and the U.S. Prior to this role, as vice president, powertrain engineering, Bakaj oversaw worldwide engine and transmission engineering. He served as vice president, global product programs, for Ford and vice president, product development, at Ford of Europe. He managed the development and launch in Europe of the 2006 Ford Galaxy and the acclaimed S-MAX model. He previously worked for Mazda Motor Co.
Birgit Behrendt
Vice President; Global Programs and Purchasing Operations
Behrendt has operational responsibility for all the regions of the world and for leveraging Ford’s global scale to improve costs and operational efficiency. Previously, Behrendt was executive director, global programs and The Americas purchasing, where she oversaw all purchasing activities in concert with product development on all global vehicle and powertrain programs. Behrendt was also vice president, purchasing, Ford of Europe, and executive director, global programs. She was among the 2015 Powered by Women honorees selected by DBusiness.
Stephen E. Biegun
Vice President; International and Governmental Affairs
Biegun oversees all aspects of Ford’s international governmental relations, including trade strategy and political risk assessment. Before joining Ford, he was a national security advisor for the U.S. Senate and provided analysis and strategic planning for the Senate’s consideration of foreign policy and defense and intelligence matters. He also worked at the White House as executive secretary of the National Security Council, and was a senior staff member in the office of former National Security adviser Condoleezza Rice.
Moray Callum
Vice President; Design
Callum leads the design of all concept and production vehicles for the Ford and Lincoln brands worldwide. Previously, as executive director, design, The Americas, he has had overall responsibility for the design of all cars and trucks created in Ford’s North and South America studios and the new Lincoln products, including the new Ford Fusion, Explorer, Mustang, EcoSport, and Lincoln MKZ. From 2001 to 2006, Callum led the design transformation at Mazda that resulted in a new generation of vehicles. His international design career started in 1982 with Chrysler Corp
Linda Cash
Vice President; Manufacturing, Ford of Europe
Cash succeeds Jeff Wood, who retired. Previously, Cash was director of vehicle operations for Ford of Europe. She joined Ford in 1984 and has spent her entire career with the automaker in manufacturing. Previously, Cash held a series of leadership position within Ford’s manufacturing operations, including executive director of global vehicle operations in manufacturing engineering and executive director of global manufacturing business office. Cash played key roles as plant manager, chief engineer, and director of manufacturing engineering.
​Roelant De Waard
Vice President; Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe
De Waard oversees all marketing, sales, and service personnel and activities in European markets. From January 2009, as vice president of sales, Ford of Europe, he was responsible for 49 markets, including the UK, France, Italy, Spain, and Russia. Previously, de Waard was chairman and managing director of Ford of Britain and vice president, Europe, Ford Customer Service Division. He joined Ford Netherlands in 1990 and served as sales manager and marketing manager. He holds a master’s in economics from Erasmus University Rotterdam.
Bill Dirksen
Vice President; Labor Affairs
Dirksen oversees global labor policy and negotiations covering Ford’s approximately 117,000 union employees. He is also responsible for hourly employee health care management and the company’s collective bargaining with unions worldwide. Previously, Dirksen served as executive director, U.S. labor affairs, and played a key role in leading the company’s UAW negotiations. Dirksen joined Ford in 1985, and has served as the senior human resources leader in Ford Credit, as well as other top positions. He also was human resources head for Ford operations in Australia.
Joy Falotico
Vice President; Chief Operating Officer, Ford Motor Credit Co.
Effective Jan. 1, Falotico is responsible for leading Ford Credit’s global operations in the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Middle East and Africa. She also will lead marketing, sales, and brand, business center operations and insurance operations. In her previous position, Falotico was executive vice president, Ford Credit marketing, sales, and strategic planning. She had been responsible for marketing and sales globally, and business operations in North and South America since 2013, with global strategic planning duties added in January 2015.
Robert Fascetti
Vice President; Powertrain Engineering
Fascetti is responsible for global powertrain engineering and has more than 25 years of powertrain and product development experience at Ford. Previously, he served as director, global engine engineering with a focus on combining fuel economy and performance. The EcoBoost engine line-up and the 6.7-liter diesel engine were designed and developed under Fascetti’s leadership. Ford’s 1-0-liter EcoBoost engine was named the International Engine of the Year for three consecutive years. Fascetti was previously director, Large Gas and Diesel Engineering.
Peter Fleet
Vice President; Marketing, Sales, and Service, Asia Pacific
Appointed in December 2015, Fleet is responsible for leading the marketing, sales, and service functions across the Asia Pacific region. He is based in Shanghai, China and reports to Dave Schoch, Ford Motor Co. group vice president and president, Asia Pacific. Previously, Fleet was vice president, sales, Ford of Europe and president of Ford ASEAN, based in Bangkok, where he led the integrated operations across Ford’s Southeast Asia markets, including Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam. He joined Ford in 2004.
Elena A. Ford
Vice President; Global Dealer and Consumer Experience
Ford leads the company’s Global Dealer and Consumer Experience organization, which is designed to accelerate the simplification and streamlining of Ford’s interaction with customers inside dealerships and at auto shows around the world. It also promotes global standards and sets best practices for planning, training, and customer interaction at both the dealer level and within the company. Ford is also responsible for the marketing, sales, and service interface to improve the company’s vehicle quality and delivery time.
Kumar Galhotra
Vice President; President, Lincoln
Galhotra is responsible for accelerating Lincoln as a world-class luxury brand since September 2014. Reporting to president and CEO Mark Fields, Galhotra is the most senior leader overseeing all Lincoln operations globally, including product development, marketing, sales, and service, and all team members supporting the Lincoln brand. Galhotra will build on the brand’s recent product and sales momentum, including Ford’s expansion efforts in China. He also oversees and lead’s the development of the next generation of Lincoln vehicles.
Jim Holland
Vice President; Vehicle Component and System Engineering
Holland is responsible for vehicle component and system engineering for Ford and Lincoln vehicles globally. His role is central to the company’s commitment to developing vehicles with top quality, fuel efficiency, safety, smart technology, and value. During his more than 30 years with Ford, Holland has held various positions as car and truck vehicle line director, Ford Asia Pacific. Previously, as engineering director, based in Melbourne, Australia, Holland oversaw a team of more than 1,500 engineers in Australia, China, India, and Taiwan.
Burt Jordan
Vice President; Global Vehicle and Powertrain Purchasing and Supplier Diversity
Jordan is responsible for all global commodity-related purchasing and supplier sourcing, including more than $70 billion in parts and commodities for the company’s worldwide auto operations. Previously, Jordan was executive director, global vehicle and powertrain purchasing, with the responsibility for the procurement of production and powertrain parts and commodities for Ford’s operations worldwide. Jordan previously oversaw supplier diversity development and global supply risk management.
Marcy Klevorn
Vice President; Chief Information Officer
Klevorn oversees all information technology services for Ford’s global operations. Previously, as director of the Office of the CIO, she was responsible for managing Ford’s global IT business applications, architecture, data centers, Web-hosting requirements, engineering, and infrastructure services. Klevorn has spent her entire career in Ford’s IT function in The Americas, Ford of Europe, and Ford Credit. In 2006, Klevorn led the implementation of infrastructure defragmentation, data center consolidation, and overall systems management.
Mark Laneve
Vice President; U.S. Marketing, Sales, and Service
In February 2015, LaNeve took over for John Felice, who retired. LaNeve is responsible for all marketing, sales, service, customer care, and dealer relations for the Ford and Lincoln brands. He is focused on continuing to build the Ford brand through innovative new digital communications and transforming the retail experience. Previously, LaNeve served as COO of Global Team Ford, the automaker’s marketing and advertising agency. He also served as senior executive vice president and chief marketing officer at Allstate Insurance.
Curt Magleby
Vice President; U.S. Government Relations
Based in Washington, D.C., Magleby engages with policymakers on a wide range of legislative and regulatory issues and oversees Ford’s federal, state, and local government affairs. He previously was director, U.S., state, and local government relations. Magleby worked as Ford’s federal legislative affairs manager in Washington, focusing on trade, tax, and technology issues. He later moved to Michigan to lead Ford’s public policy office as director of state and local government affairs. Magleby joined Ford as a financial analyst.
Kimberly Pittel
Vice President; Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering
Pittel is responsible for the continued development and implementation of the company’s global environment and safety strategy, policy and performance. Previously, Pittel served as executive director, global supplier technical assistance, and was responsible for establishing product launch and supplier quality processes to improve vehicle quality. Pittel began her career at Ford in 1985 and has held several key management and executive positions within manufacturing, product development, quality, and purchasing.
Stuart Rowley
Vice President; Controller
Rowley has served as chief financial officer of Ford of Europe. Previously, he was CFO, senior vice president, deputy CFO, and operations controller of Volvo Car Corp. in Gothenburg, Sweden. Between 2000 and 2004, Rowley was vice president, finance, at Ford Australia. He also held management positions in product development, finance, and manufacturing finance in Britain and the U.S. before being appointed finance director at Ford Motor Co. Philippines. Rowley, who has worked in several managment positions, joined the automaker in 1990.
Bill Russo
Vice President; Manufacturing, Asia Pacific
Russo succeeds Gary Johnson, who is returning to the U.S. to lead a special assignment related to global manufacturing planning. Russo is responsible for manufacturing facilities in seven markets with the capacity to produce 2.7 million vehicles, including capacity in China of 1.4 million passenger cars and 500,000 trucks and commercial vehicles. Previously, Russo was director, global powertrain manufacturing engineering. He joined the automaker in May 2001 as director, vehicle operations manufacturing engineering for The Americas.
Barb J. Samardzich
Vice President; Chief Operating Officer, Ford of Europe
Samardzich is responsible for many of Ford of Europe’s operations, including manufacturing, quality, product development, purchasing, sustainability, environment, and safety engineering. Previously, she was vice president, product development at Ford of Europe. Earlier, as vice president, global product programs, she set the strategic direction for Ford’s global car, hybrid, crossover, SUV, and truck programs. Before joining Ford in 1990, she worked as a thermal design engineer in Westinghouse Electric’s nuclear fuels division.
Neil M. Schloss
Vice President; Treasurer
Schloss has overall responsibility for Ford’s treasury operations and was previously assistant treasurer. Schloss joined Ford in 1982 as a financial analyst in the controller’s office at Ford Aerospace. He joined the treasurer’s office at Ford Credit in 1991 and held positions in both risk management and international financing. In 1995, he returned to Ford as manager of domestic and international financing. In 1997, he moved to Ford Credit’s Treasurer’s Office as manager, North American and European financing. He later was named assistant treasurer.
​Frederiek Toney
Vice President; Global Ford Customer Service Division
Toney works directly with hundreds of Ford dealerships around the world. He joined Ford in 2000 and has held leadership positions in logistics, operations, and parts and service. Most recently, he served as executive director, global material planning and logistics. Before joining Ford, Toney spent nearly 25 years in management at Caterpillar Inc. in a variety of managerial assignments and also worked at American Honda Motor Co. In 2012, Black Enterprise magazine named Toney one of “100 Most Powerful Executives in Corporate America.”
Ken Washington
Vice President; Research and Advanced Engineering
Washington heads Ford’s worldwide research organization, overseeing the development and implementation of the company’s technology strategy and plans. Prior to joining Ford, he was vice president of the Space Technology Advanced Research and Development Laboratories at Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co.in California. Washington was responsible for leading an organization of approximately 700 scientists and engineers in performing research and development in space science and related R&D. He also worked at Lockheed Martin.
Trevor Worthington
Vice President; Product Development for Asia Pacific
Worthington leads Ford’s plan to bring more than 50 new vehicles and powertrains to its Asia Pacific region. Previously, he served as the vehicle line director for Asia Pacific, playing a key role in delivering the first wave of global products for Asia Pacific markets along with developing Ford’s product development capability in the region. Since joining the company in 1985, Worthington has held various positions in product development and product strategy. Among other company assignments, Worthington led product development in Australia for six years.
Paul Ballew
Global Chief Data and Analytics Officer
Ballew leads Ford’s global data and analytics teams, including development of new capabilities supporting connectivity and smart mobility. Prior to joining Ford , Ballew was at Dun & Bradstreet, responsible for global data and analytic activities and strategic consulting practice. Previously, Ballew served as senior vice president for customer insight and analytics at Nationwide Insurance and was GM’s executive director for global market and industry analysis, where he led research, consumer data and information, forecasting and sales, and customer, economic, and industry analytic functions.
Bradley M. Gayton
Corporate Secretary and General Counsel
Effective January 2016, Gayton succeeds David Leitch, who retired. Gayton leads the company’s litigation, tax, corporate, and intellectual property efforts. He also advises the company’s board of directors and senior management on a wide range of legal issues, and oversees its General Auditor’s Office. Previously, as corporate secretary and assistant general counsel, Gayton had legal responsibility for NYSE and SEC compliance and reporting, as well as legal responsibility for supporting Ford’s treasury operations in capital markets and debt financing transactions.
Gary Johnson
Special Assignment
Effective Jan. 1, Johnson is responsible for Ford’s North America manufacturing footprint – the company’s largest in the world with more than 30 manufacturing plants (among 67 plants located around the world). He will continue to play a key role in the automaker’s ongoing efforts to improve manufacturing flexibility and efficiency. Johnson also oversees Ford’s product expansion in North America and the company’s seamless conversion to global platforms. Previously, Johnson served as vice president of manufacturing operations for Asia Pacific since January 2010.
John Lawler
Chairman and CEO Ford Motor China
Lawler has overall responsibility for the operations and business leadership of Ford Motor China. He was the CFO for Ford Asia Pacific and Africa, based in Shanghai, and was responsible for the financial strategy and analysis of the company’s operations throughout Asia Pacific and Africa. Lawler worked alongside the company’s leaders for China and Asia Pacific to set business strategy. Lawler was a key member of the team that led Ford’s North American turnaround in recent years, serving as controller of U.S. marketing and sales from 2007 until moving to China.
