Ford Land, a subsidiary of Ford Motor Co. in Dearborn, has announced that Jim Dobleske will succeed Dave Dubensky as chair and CEO. As part of the transition, Dubensky will step away from the role at the end of the year.
Dobleske will join Ford Land on Nov. 15 from CBRE, a large commercial real estate services firm where he was global president of project management. Dubensky most recently has been driving transformational projects supporting the Ford+ strategic plan, including the evolution of Ford’s Research and Engineering Center in Dearborn into a walkable, interconnected campus that fosters and speeds innovation.
“This is a case of going from strength to strength in the leadership of Ford Land,” says Kiersten Robinson, chief people and employee experience officer at Ford. “Dave and his team have been vital to Ford’s success around the globe, and Jim’s experience will help deliver and sustain best-in-class real estate, workplace experiences, and facilities across the globe and, in turn, on Ford+.”
Prior to CBRE, Dobleske spent 17 years at JLL, holding a number of positions with increasing global strategic responsibility. The Ford Land role is a homecoming for Dobleske who spent 11 years at Ford in project management through 2002.
“I am excited to be rejoining the Ford team and leveraging my experience to contribute to bringing the Ford+ plan fully to life,” says Dobleske.
Like Dobleske going forward, Dubensky, who spent more than 30 years at Ford, most recently had global responsibility for Ford Land’s real estate, engineering and construction, energy and sustainability, global design, facility management services, workplace experience, and corporate services.
Dubensky played an integral role in Ford’s global campus transformation plans and in the acquisition of Michigan Central Station, kicking off Ford’s new mobility innovation district in Detroit’s historic Corktown neighborhood. The MCS project comprises a sustainable community of new and revitalized buildings, shared spaces, a first-of-its-kind mobility testing platform, and 1.2 million square feet of commercial space.
In addition, Ford Land will lead construction of two large new environmentally and technologically advanced campuses in Tennessee and Kentucky to produce Ford’s next-generation electric vehicles and batteries required to power them at Blue Oval City in west Tennessee and Blue Oval Park in central Kentucky.
Dubensky’s career with Ford included international assignments in Mexico, Japan, and India, spanning finance, strategy, analytics, automotive credit operations, and audit roles.
Dubensky and Dobleske will work together on a smooth leadership transition over the next month. Dobleske will report to Robinson in his role with Ford Land.
