John Lawler was elected a company officer and named Ford Motor Company’s chairman and chief executive officer of Ford Motor China, effective December 1, 2012. In this role, Lawler has overall responsibility for the operations and business leadership of Ford Motor China. He reports to David Schoch, group vice president and president, Asia Pacific.
Prior to this role, Lawler served for more than two years as the chief financial officer for Ford Asia Pacific and Africa, based in Shanghai. As CFO, he was primarily responsible for the financial strategy and analysis of the company’s operations throughout Asia Pacific and Africa and worked alongside the company’s leaders for China and Asia Pacific to set business strategy.
Lawler has a wealth of experience in business strategy particularly related to market analysis, pricing strategy and product programs. He was a key member of the team that led the company’s North American turnaround in recent years, serving as controller of US Marketing and Sales from January 2007 until moving to China in 2010. In the US position, he was responsible for key business strategies including pricing and business planning, and led the company’s efforts to reduce complexity and overhaul dealer policies.
Prior to that assignment, Lawler served in a variety of roles in North America, Europe and Asia. His assignments included serving as a controller in Ford of Europe’s Product Development organization and as a finance leader with Mazda Motor Corporation in Japan.
Lawler earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Knox College in 1988 and an MBA from the University of Iowa in 1990. He joined Ford Motor Company in 1990. Lawler and his wife, Inga, have three children.