Ford Motor Co. in Dearborn has named Doug Field as the company’s chief advanced technology and embedded systems officer.
Field joins Ford from Apple, where he served as vice president of special projects. Before that, he was senior vice president of engineering, at Tesla. His appointment to Ford was effective Sept. 7 and he reports to Ford President and CEO Jim Farley.
“Doug is one of the world’s most respected engineering and product design leaders and has been a driving force behind breakthrough products across auto, tech, and mobility, including at Apple, Tesla, and Segway,” Farley says.
“His talent and commitment to innovation that improves customers’ lives will be invaluable as we build out our Ford+ plan to deliver awesome products, always-on customer relationships, and ever-improving user experiences. We are thrilled Doug chose to join Ford and help write the next amazing chapter of this great company.”
Field will lead Ford’s Embedded Software and Hardware organization currently consisting of Vehicle Controls, Enterprise Connectivity, Features, Integration and Validation, Architecture and Platform, Driver Assistance Technology, and Digital Engineering Tools. This includes:
- Leading design, development, and implementation of the Blue Oval Intelligence tech stack for Ford, Lincoln, and Ford Pro products to create intuitive, always-on experiences for customers.
- Delivering customer-facing attributes, technologies, and features such as infotainment, navigation, driver-assist technology, connected services, and vehicle cybersecurity.
- Developing scalable technology platforms that can be deployed across Ford global products.
- Leading and managing relationships with key technology partners and the digital developer ecosystem.
- Leading Ford Power-Up over-the-air updates to delight customers, improve quality and reduce costs.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Ford as it embraces a transition to a new, complex, and fascinating period in the auto industry,” Field says. “It will be a privilege to help Ford deliver a new generation of experiences built on the shift to electrification, software and digital experiences, and autonomy. I’m committed to helping the team make those experiences seamless, delightful and continually advancing over time.”
Field will partner closely with Hau Thai-Tang, Ford’s chief product platform and operations officer, to create the next generation of Ford’s connected products and experiences. Thai-Tang will continue to oversee Product Development, Purchasing, Design, Research and Advanced Engineering, EPLM / D-Ford, Advanced Manufacturing, and Ford Ion Park.
“Doug’s track record of innovation and expertise with embedded systems will help Ford accelerate the development and implementation of our Blue Oval Intelligence tech stack,” Thai-Tang says. “I’m excited to partner with and learn from Doug as we bring our Ford+ plan to life.”
Field began his career as a development engineer at Ford from 1987 to 1993.
“I’ve always felt a deep connection to Ford,” Field says. “Ford products have been in my life as long as I can remember – F-150s on my dad’s farm, a ’65 Continental picking us up at my wedding, and my thrill when I discovered the brilliant elegance in the design of the Model T. I’m grateful for the opportunity to help the team build the next generation of iconic Ford vehicles and prepare Ford for the next 100 years.”
