DUNTON, UK, June 14, 2022 – The Autocar Great British Women in the Car Industry event has singled out 15 Ford employees as among the top 100 most influential, successful, and inspirational women in the automotive sector.
Josephine Payne (Director Craiova Vehicle Operations and Site) and Sue Slaughter (Global Purchasing Director, Supply Chain Sustainability) were recognised for their multiple wins in previous Autocar awards, and have been appointed to the Autocar Women Hall of Fame, a huge achievement for both after years of inspirational leadership.
4 Ford employees were chosen as overall category winners, selected from hundreds of nominees from across the world and across the industry. Usha Raghavachari, Innovation Lab Director at D-Ford was the winner of the Mobility and Digital category, Sarah Brettle, Director FCSD won the Aftersales and Workshop category, Alexandra Walker, Ford of Europe Powertrain and Battery Assembly Launch Manager was the winner of the Operations category, and Emma Bergg, Director of Electric Vehicle Communications was victorious in the PR & Comms category.
Lisa Brankin, herself an award winner in the executive category, commented: “This is a fantastic result for Ford – each award is richly deserved and testament to the talent, hard work and results achieved by my colleagues. As we continue our journey towards electrification, there is no more exciting time to be in the automotive industry. These awards recognise the creativity and determination of Ford’s women and the teams they lead.”
The awards ceremony took place in London today and included a panel discussion in which Mandy Dean took part. Mandy, Director Commercial Vehicles Ford of Britain and Ireland was also a finalist in the Executive category and spoke on the various challenges facing women in the automotive industry today.
| Bim Adesanya – Company Secretary, Legal Affairs Europe | Finalist, Operations Category |
| Emma Bergg – Director, Electric Vehicle and BlueOval City Communications | Winner, PR & Comms Category |
| Lisa Brankin – Managing Director, Ford of Britain and Ireland | Finalist, Executive Category |
| Sarah Brettle, Director FCSD | Winner, Aftersales and Workshop Category |
| Mandy Dean – Director, Commercial Vehicles Ford of Britain and Ireland | Finalist, Executive Category |
| Wendy Graham – Assistant Plant Manager, Dagenham | Finalist, Manufacturing Category |
| Sarah Haslam MBE – Chief Engineer Software & Features Integration, Commercial Vehicles Ford of Europe | Finalist, Vehicle Development Category |
| Lisa King – Supply Chain Transformation Director | Finalist, Purchasing Category |
| Cathy O’Callaghan – VP and Controller | Finalist, Executive Category |
| Josephine Payne - Director Craiova Vehicle Operations and Site | Winner, Hall of Fame |
| Usha Raghavachari – Innovation Lab Director, D-Ford | Winner, Mobility and Digital |
| Jane Skerry – Executive Director HR, Ford Pro | Finalist, People Development |
| Sue Slaughter - Global Purchasing Director, Supply Chain Sustainability | Winner, Hall of Fame |
| Alexandra Walker – Ford of Europe Powertrain and Battery Assembly Launch Manager | Winner, Operations Category |
| Nicola Walker – Government Affairs Director and Executive Director | Finalist, Government Affairs Category |
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford trucks, utility vehicles, and cars – increasingly including electrified versions – and Lincoln luxury vehicles; provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company; and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification; mobility solutions, including self-driving services; and connected vehicle services. Ford employs approximately 186,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit corporate.ford.com.
About Ford of Britain
The UK is Ford’s third-largest global market, accounting for around 30 percent of Ford total vehicle sales in Europe, and directly employing around 7,000 people in the country with thousands more employed in its extensive dealer network. The Ford Britain Dunton Campus in Essex is the home of Ford’s European commercial vehicle business group, the Ford of Britain national sales company, Ford’s banking arm – Ford Credit Europe – and powertrain engineering. Ford is one of the UK’s top exporters, with its exports accounting for around £2.5 billion annually.
