There will be changes in Ford Motor Co. in Dearborn’s global supply chain due to the retirement of two veteran Ford corporate officers.
Kiersten Robinson, who is general manager of family vehicles and president of Mexico and Canada for Ford Blue, is retiring July 1. Jonathan Jennings is retiring from his position as vice president of supply chain at Ford, effective Aug. 1. Both executives served the company for more than 30 years.
Among the changes resulting from the retirements is the hiring of Liz Door, who for the past six years was the leader of global strategic sourcing for Benton Harbor-base home-appliance maker Whirlpool Corp.
Starting June 12, Door will be the company’s chief supply chain officer, taking on responsibilities that since September have been held on an interim basis by John Lawler, CFO at Ford, to whom she’ll report.
Door comes to Ford at a time when improving quality and reducing costs, including through the supply chain management have been declared by management a high priority and vital to realizing the full potential of the Ford+ plan.
Before becoming Whirlpool’s executive vice president of global strategic sourcing and a member of the appliance maker’s executive committee in 2017, she headed North America procurement for the Benton Harbor-based company for more than six years.
“Liz brings deep, relevant domain experience — including leveraging the Internet of Things to create great value for customers — from both outside and inside the global auto industry,” says Lawler. “That’s an ideal combination for leading a team that’s determined to restore supply chain management as a competitive advantage for Ford.”
Prior to Whirlpool, Door spent more than 15 years advancing through a series of strategic purchasing and supply chain roles at GM, ultimately becoming an executive in the global purchasing and supply chain organization.
“Ford and our suppliers will win together by delivering fresh, high-quality products for our customers,” Door says. “We’re going to expand the use of advanced quality planning throughout the supply portfolio.”
Since starting as a manufacturing engineer at the former Cleveland Casting Plant in 1993, Jennings’ 30-year Ford career took him across the U.S. and around the world — including to Mexico, Thailand, and China — and to increasingly significant assignments and accomplishments.
Jennings has worked in multiple disciplines at Ford and helped lead strategic initiatives. But the greatest challenges for Jennings and his supply chain management colleagues have been over the past three years.
“Our industry and others have been pummeled by issues caused by the pandemic, natural disasters and extraordinary demand for new technology,” says Lawler. “Jonathan’s firsthand relationships with vendors have helped us navigate often severe limits on volumes of semiconductors, batteries and even basic parts in order to best meet the needs of customers.”
Robinson began her 28-year career in labor relations and devoted most of it to leadership in human resources — in Asia Pacific, Africa, Europe, and North America – including four years as chief human resources officer for Ford and head of Ford Land. More than a year ago, she took on the operational role in Ford Blue — which develops, makes, and sells gas and hybrid vehicles.
“Kiersten uses her expertise in people and systems to find solutions that are good for the business, our customers and our teams,” says Kumar Galhotra, the president of Ford Blue. “She’s a great listener who brings global perspective and empathy to large-scale change.”
Robinson joined Ford in 1995 in Australia, her home country, and has handled progressively larger HR assignments during periods of growth in Asia Pacific and Europe, and moved to headquarters here in 2002.
Robinson’s responsibilities will shift to Andrew Frick, vice president of sales, distribution, and trucks for Ford Blue. Frick’s operational role will now span all of North America and his general management responsibilities will expand to include family vehicles — or SUVs — in addition to trucks.
Also within Ford Blue, Tim Slatter was named head of vehicle programs, a group previously led by Trevor Worthington, who retired last month. The assignment, which was effective June 1, includes management of all Ford Blue global vehicle programs, including derivatives, and Ford Performance products. In this role, he’ll also be involved in strategy and cycle planning for Ford Blue, Ford Performance, and Ford Motor Sports.
Slatter reports to Jim Baumbick, Ford Blue’s vice president of product development operations and quality. A 25-year company veteran who’s also worked in China and Australia, Slatter most recently was vehicle line director for buses and vans in Ford of Europe and chair of Ford of Britain. He’ll continue to direct U.K. operations until his successor in that position is in place.
In related news, Dave Bozeman, who’s been running Ford Blue’s enthusiast vehicles unit and the Ford customer service division, has accepted an offer to become CEO of C.H. Robinson, a global transportation and third-party logistics enterprise.
