Ford Media Center

Ford Makes Leadership Changes as it Speeds Transformation

  • Ford Motor Company announces leadership changes as it accelerates progress on its global business redesign, product resurgence and its vision to become the world’s most trusted company designing smart vehicles for a smart world
  • Jim Farley is appointed president, New Businesses, Technology & Strategy, and will oversee Strategy, Ford Smart Mobility, Ford Autonomous Vehicles and Research & Advanced Engineering, Corporate Partnerships and Global Data Insight and Analytics
  • Joe Hinrichs is appointed president, Automotive, and will oversee Ford’s global operations, including Product Development, Purchasing, Manufacturing, and Marketing & Sales, and the company’s global business units, North America, South America, Europe, China and International Markets Group
  • John Lawler will take on an expanded role as vice president, Strategy, reporting to Farley, Lawler will lead Corporate Strategy, Business Development and Global Data Insight and Analytics
  • Marcy Klevorn, president, Mobility, has elected to retire from the company in October after 36 years with the company. In the interim, she will serve as chief transformation officer, working closely with Ford President and CEO Jim Hackett and the Ford leadership team

DEARBORN, Mich., April 10, 2019 – Ford Motor Company today announced key leadership changes as it accelerates progress on the global redesign of its business, product resurgence, and vision to become the world’s most trusted company designing smart vehicles for a smart world.

“In the past two years, we have made tangible progress in improving the fitness of our business, overhauled our regional strategies, created a winning product portfolio, and are working to transform Ford to succeed in an era of profound change and disruption,” Hackett said. “With this strong foundation in place for our auto and mobility businesses, we can now accelerate our transformation.”

Ford said Joe Hinrichs is appointed president, Automotive, effective May 1. In this role, he will lead Ford’s drive to strengthen its Automotive operations and help deliver a sustainable global EBIT margin of at least 8 percent. Hinrichs will have responsibility for Ford’s global business units – North America, South America, Europe, China, and the International Markets Group. He will also oversee both the Ford and Lincoln brands. 

In addition, Hinrichs will lead all of Ford’s automotive skill teams including Product Development, Purchasing, Enterprise Product Line Management, Manufacturing & Labor Affairs, Marketing, Sales & Service, Quality & New Model Launch, Sustainability, Environmental & Safety Engineering, Information Technology, Customer Experience, and Government Affairs.

Jim Farley is appointed president, New Businesses, Technology & Strategy, effective May 1. Farley will spearhead Ford’s strategic transformation into a higher growth, higher margin business by leveraging smart, connected vehicles and breakthrough customer experiences. In this role, Farley will oversee Corporate Strategy, Global Data Insight and Analytics, Global Partnerships, Research & Advanced Engineering as well as Ford Smart Mobility and Ford Autonomous Vehicles.

Both Farley and Hinrichs will continue to report to Ford President and CEO Jim Hackett.

“Joe Hinrichs possesses the knowledge, experience and leadership to now take our Automotive business to world-class levels of product excellence, customer satisfaction, efficiency and financial performance,” Hackett said. “As we enter a busy period for new product launches and further restructuring in underperforming markets, Joe’s leadership in transforming businesses through focused execution will be key.”

“Jim Farley’s job is to drive us into the future, both strategically and operationally, from AVs to mobility experiences to leveraging AI and big data. Jim combines an innate feel for what customers want and need in vehicles and the ability to translate this into the vehicles and services of the future,” Hackett said.

“I’m excited that Jim and Joe will be working together with the Ford team around the world to advance our vision to design increasingly intelligent vehicles and connect them to the world around us to make life better for our customers and communities.”  

John Lawler, also will take on an expanded role as vice president, Strategy, reporting to Farley, Lawler will lead Corporate Strategy, Business Development and Global Data Insight and Analytics.

After 36 years with Ford, Marcy Klevorn, president of Ford Mobility, has announced plans to retire Oct. 1. Until then, Marcy will report to Hackett and work with Ford’s senior leadership team on key transformational opportunities.

In this role, Klevorn will help refine the company’s corporate governance systems, facilitate faster adoption of agile teams across the business and ensure process improvements across the enterprise.  She will also continue to facilitate strategic partnerships with key technology partners as well as continue to champion Ford’s Professional Women’s Network and support the company’s diversity efforts.   

“I have asked Marcy to work with me and the senior team to accelerate our transformation,” Hackett said. “Marcy’s decades of experience working with many of the leading companies in the tech space as well as the work she has done with the transformation of Ford IT and the establishment of Ford Mobility gives her unique knowledge to drive these initiatives.”

Klevorn was appointed leader of Ford Mobility in June 2017. Over the past two years, she redesigned the organization to focus on delivery of great products and services, to nurture and grow new businesses, to support city customers, and to incubate new ideas.

Through her leadership, the Ford Mobility team put in place the pillars for the company’s transition toward mobility services, including the establishment of Ford Autonomous Vehicles LLC, the acquisition of Autonomic and creation of the Transportation Mobility Cloud and the company’s commitment to 100 percent vehicle connectivity globally.

In addition, she led the expansion of FordPass, directed the growth of several revenue generating businesses including Ford Commercial Solutions, GoRide Health, and the
City:One Challenges, and she steered the acquisition of others including Spin and Transloc. Prior to becoming president of Ford Mobility, Marcy served as the company’s chief information officer, where she led the transformation of IT into a product-led organization. 

 

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About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams.  The company’s Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for customers and deepen their loyalty.  Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, along with connected services.  The company does that through three customer-centered business segments:  Ford Blue, engineering iconic gas-powered and hybrid vehicles; Ford Model e, inventing breakthrough electric vehicles along with embedded software that defines exceptional digital experiences for all customers; and Ford Pro, helping commercial customers transform and expand their businesses with vehicles and services tailored to their needs.  Additionally, Ford provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company.  Ford employs about 174,000 people worldwide.  More information about the company and its products and services is available at corporate.ford.com.