Kim Pittel is Ford Motor Company’s vice president, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering, a position she has held from January 2015 until Dec. 1, 2019, when she elects to retire. Pittel has served as the company’s top environment and safety officer, responsible for implementing sustainability best practices throughout the company and leading our global environment and safety strategy, policy and performance.

Pittel began her career at Ford in 1985 and held several key management and executive positions within Manufacturing, Product Development, Quality and Purchasing.

She served as Engineering Director, North American Family & Sport Vehicles and Powertrain Chief Engineer of the Mustang, Freestar, Escape and Focus. She also held manufacturing operations positions within the company’s Powertrain organization, including serving as Plant Manager, Quality Manager, Manufacturing Engineering and Production Supervision.

In December 2005, Pittel was named Vehicle Line Director North American Small Car Product Programs. In this role she was responsible for the development and launch of the Mustang, Escape, Focus, and Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln MKZ.

She was named Director, Transmission and Driveline Engineering in August 2009 and served as the lead for the company’s global operation

In November 2010, Pittel was named Director North and South America Quality. In this role, she was responsible for leading cross functional teams to deliver world-class levels of quality across the company’s current and future vehicle portfolio.

She was named executive director, Global Supplier Technical Assistance in 2012. In this role, she was responsible for establishing product launch and supplier quality processes to improve vehicle quality.

Pittel, born in 1959, earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She also earned a master’s degree in business administration from Wayne State University in Detroit.