Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) said in Dearborn this morning that corporate officers are retiring after three-decade careers, an executive is returning to the auto industry to lead global supply chain operations, and an under warranty new Ford Blue executive is departing to become CEO of a major transportation and logistics business.
Ford People Shuffling At A Glance
Kiersten Robinson, who is general manager, Family Vehicles, and president, Mexico and Canada, for Ford Blue, is ending her work on 1 July.
- Jonathan Jennings is retiring from his position as vice president, Supply Chain, effective 1 August.
- Liz Door, for the past six years the leader of global strategic sourcing for home-appliance maker Whirlpool Corp., is joining Ford On 12 June as the company’s chief supply chain officer, taking on responsibilities that since last September have been held on an interim basis by CFO John Lawler, to whom she’ll now report.
- Dave Bozeman, who’s been running Ford Blue’s Enthusiast Vehicles unit and the Ford Customer Service Division since last September, is leaving to become CEO of C.H. Robinson, a global transportation and third-party logistics enterprise.
Liz Door
Rookie Liz Door will face intense scrutiny as she comes to Ford Motor at a time when improving quality and reducing costs, including through its dysfunctional wavering supply chain, are high priorities and vital to delivering the so-called Ford+ plan. Here, there is no shortage or interrupted supply of skeptics about the company’s ability to do this among analysts, media, employees and various outlooks of the capital markets and governments or trade groups. (AutoInformed on: Toyota, Honda, GM Lead in Supplier Relations. Executive summary: Nissan took over fourth place from Ford which dropped 23 points – the largest drop by an automaker this year. Toyota lost 7 points and Honda declined by 3 points.)
Before becoming Whirlpool’s executive vice president of global strategic sourcing and a member of the appliance maker’s executive committee in 2017, she headed North America procurement for the Benton Harbor, Michigan-based company for more than six years.
Those roles placed her in the middle of Whirlpool “re-imagining and developing smart, networked kitchen and laundry products embedded with sensors, software and other new technologies – in the same way Ford is creating breakthrough digital platforms and software for adoption across connected electric, hybrid and gas vehicles,” Ford claimed.
Prior to Whirlpool, Door spent more than 15 years advancing through a series of strategic purchasing and supply chain roles at General Motors, becoming an executive in the global purchasing and supply chain organization.
“Liz brings deep, relevant domain experience – including leveraging the Internet of Things to create great value for customers – from both outside and inside the global auto industry,” CFO John Lawler said. “That’s an ideal combination for leading a team that’s determined to restore supply chain management as a competitive advantage for Ford.”
“Ford and our suppliers will win together by delivering fresh, high-quality products for our customers,” Door said. “We’re going to expand the use of advanced quality planning throughout the supply portfolio.” Door began her career with Prince Corp. (now part of Johnson Controls), as a resident quality engineer at a Chrysler assembly plant in St. Louis. A Michigan native, she holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from Michigan State University.
Jonathan Jennings
Jennings is a 30-year Ford survivor with experience in the US and globally including to Mexico, Thailand and China.
Jennings has worked in multiple areas at Ford and helped lead strategic initiatives. Among them are new Lincoln vehicles and in Ford’s view “helping hundreds of suppliers reach and maintain manufacturing readiness. But the greatest challenges for Jennings and his supply chain management colleagues have been over the past three years.”
“Our industry and others have been pummeled by issues caused by the pandemic, natural disasters and extraordinary demand for new technology,” said CFO John Lawler acknowledging recent turmoil. “Jonathan’s firsthand relationships with vendors have helped us navigate often severe limits on volumes of semiconductors, batteries and even basic parts in order to best meet the needs of customers,” Lawler claimed.
Kiersten Robinson
Robinson began her 28-year career in labor relations with most of the time in Asia Pacific, Africa, Europe and North America in human resources, including four years as Ford chief human resources officer and head of Ford Land. More than a year ago, she took on the operational role in Ford Blue, which develops, makes and sells gas and hybrid vehicles and is doomed to obsolescence and dissolution. (AutoInformed on: Chief Marketing Officer Suzy Deering Abruptly Flees Ford Blue. Executive summary: When Ford moved Suzy Deering to Ford Blue two years ago it said, “In this role, Suzy will continue to oversee e-commerce and digital strategy, as well as go-to-market for Ford Blue while supporting the forward vision for Ford Model e. AutoInformed noted then “while supporting the forward vision for Ford Model e, since, as in comedy, timing is everything. Supporting a business that will eliminate your job? [sounds of laughter]. No matter – we had no direct insight then as to why Ms. Deering is gone so abruptly.”)
“Kiersten uses her expertise in people and systems to find solutions that are good for the business, our customers and our teams,” said Kumar Galhotra, the president of Ford Blue. “She’s a great listener who brings global perspective and empathy to large-scale change.”
“We literally wrote and shared with other organizations a playbook for how to simultaneously protect our people and our future,” said Robinson.
Worth noting: Robinson at Ford introduced progressive benefits such as parental leave for both mothers and fathers. She was also active in the community, including serving two terms as chair of Inforum, a non-profit organization “that helps women remove barriers to and accelerate their careers.” Robinson joined Ford in 1995 in Australia, her home country, had progressively larger HR assignments Asia Pacific and Europe, and moved Dearborn in 2002.
Robinson’s responsibilities go to Andrew Frick, Ford Blue’s vice president of Sales, Distribution and Trucks. Frick’s operational role will now span all of North America and his general management responsibilities will expand to include Family Vehicles or SUVs in addition to Trucks.
Tim Slatter
Also at Ford Blue, Tim Slatter is named head of Vehicle Programs, a group previously led by Trevor Worthington, who retired in May. The assignment, which was effective 1 June, includes management of all Ford Blue global vehicle programs, including derivatives, and Ford Performance products. In this role, he’ll also be involved in strategy and cycle planning for Ford Blue, Ford Performance and Ford Motor Sports. Slatter reports to Jim Baumbick, Ford Blue’s vice president, Product Development Operations and Quality. A 25-year company veteran who’s also worked in China and Australia, Slatter recently was vehicle line director for buses and vans in Ford of Europe and chair of Ford of Britain. He’ll continue to direct U.K. operations until his successor for that position is found and installed.
Dave Bozeman
Bozeman, who came to Ford from Amazon in September of 2022, barely ten months ago, is leaving the company on 16 June to become CEO at Minnesota-based C.H. Robinson, which provides global customers with services including freight transportation, transportation management, brokerage and warehousing. The company last year recorded $25 billion in revenue.
“Dave’s an exceptional leader and partner, and we appreciate his contributions to Ford,” Kumar Galhotra said. “We congratulate him on becoming a CEO and wish him every success.”
“My experiences here will be invaluable as I help another great global company with its next phase of growth,” Bozeman said. Whether he was wearing a track suit at work is unknown here.
Ford Reshuffling with Retirements, and a Defection Announced
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) said in Dearborn this morning that corporate officers are retiring after three-decade careers, an executive is returning to the auto industry to lead global supply chain operations, and an under warranty new Ford Blue executive is departing to become CEO of a major transportation and logistics business.
Ford People Shuffling At A Glance
Kiersten Robinson, who is general manager, Family Vehicles, and president, Mexico and Canada, for Ford Blue, is ending her work on 1 July.
Liz Door
Rookie Liz Door will face intense scrutiny as she comes to Ford Motor at a time when improving quality and reducing costs, including through its dysfunctional wavering supply chain, are high priorities and vital to delivering the so-called Ford+ plan. Here, there is no shortage or interrupted supply of skeptics about the company’s ability to do this among analysts, media, employees and various outlooks of the capital markets and governments or trade groups. (AutoInformed on: Toyota, Honda, GM Lead in Supplier Relations. Executive summary: Nissan took over fourth place from Ford which dropped 23 points – the largest drop by an automaker this year. Toyota lost 7 points and Honda declined by 3 points.)
Before becoming Whirlpool’s executive vice president of global strategic sourcing and a member of the appliance maker’s executive committee in 2017, she headed North America procurement for the Benton Harbor, Michigan-based company for more than six years.
Those roles placed her in the middle of Whirlpool “re-imagining and developing smart, networked kitchen and laundry products embedded with sensors, software and other new technologies – in the same way Ford is creating breakthrough digital platforms and software for adoption across connected electric, hybrid and gas vehicles,” Ford claimed.
Prior to Whirlpool, Door spent more than 15 years advancing through a series of strategic purchasing and supply chain roles at General Motors, becoming an executive in the global purchasing and supply chain organization.
“Liz brings deep, relevant domain experience – including leveraging the Internet of Things to create great value for customers – from both outside and inside the global auto industry,” CFO John Lawler said. “That’s an ideal combination for leading a team that’s determined to restore supply chain management as a competitive advantage for Ford.”
“Ford and our suppliers will win together by delivering fresh, high-quality products for our customers,” Door said. “We’re going to expand the use of advanced quality planning throughout the supply portfolio.” Door began her career with Prince Corp. (now part of Johnson Controls), as a resident quality engineer at a Chrysler assembly plant in St. Louis. A Michigan native, she holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from Michigan State University.
Jonathan Jennings
Jennings is a 30-year Ford survivor with experience in the US and globally including to Mexico, Thailand and China.
Jennings has worked in multiple areas at Ford and helped lead strategic initiatives. Among them are new Lincoln vehicles and in Ford’s view “helping hundreds of suppliers reach and maintain manufacturing readiness. But the greatest challenges for Jennings and his supply chain management colleagues have been over the past three years.”
“Our industry and others have been pummeled by issues caused by the pandemic, natural disasters and extraordinary demand for new technology,” said CFO John Lawler acknowledging recent turmoil. “Jonathan’s firsthand relationships with vendors have helped us navigate often severe limits on volumes of semiconductors, batteries and even basic parts in order to best meet the needs of customers,” Lawler claimed.
Kiersten Robinson
Robinson began her 28-year career in labor relations with most of the time in Asia Pacific, Africa, Europe and North America in human resources, including four years as Ford chief human resources officer and head of Ford Land. More than a year ago, she took on the operational role in Ford Blue, which develops, makes and sells gas and hybrid vehicles and is doomed to obsolescence and dissolution. (AutoInformed on: Chief Marketing Officer Suzy Deering Abruptly Flees Ford Blue. Executive summary: When Ford moved Suzy Deering to Ford Blue two years ago it said, “In this role, Suzy will continue to oversee e-commerce and digital strategy, as well as go-to-market for Ford Blue while supporting the forward vision for Ford Model e. AutoInformed noted then “while supporting the forward vision for Ford Model e, since, as in comedy, timing is everything. Supporting a business that will eliminate your job? [sounds of laughter]. No matter – we had no direct insight then as to why Ms. Deering is gone so abruptly.”)
“Kiersten uses her expertise in people and systems to find solutions that are good for the business, our customers and our teams,” said Kumar Galhotra, the president of Ford Blue. “She’s a great listener who brings global perspective and empathy to large-scale change.”
“We literally wrote and shared with other organizations a playbook for how to simultaneously protect our people and our future,” said Robinson.
Worth noting: Robinson at Ford introduced progressive benefits such as parental leave for both mothers and fathers. She was also active in the community, including serving two terms as chair of Inforum, a non-profit organization “that helps women remove barriers to and accelerate their careers.” Robinson joined Ford in 1995 in Australia, her home country, had progressively larger HR assignments Asia Pacific and Europe, and moved Dearborn in 2002.
Robinson’s responsibilities go to Andrew Frick, Ford Blue’s vice president of Sales, Distribution and Trucks. Frick’s operational role will now span all of North America and his general management responsibilities will expand to include Family Vehicles or SUVs in addition to Trucks.
Tim Slatter
Also at Ford Blue, Tim Slatter is named head of Vehicle Programs, a group previously led by Trevor Worthington, who retired in May. The assignment, which was effective 1 June, includes management of all Ford Blue global vehicle programs, including derivatives, and Ford Performance products. In this role, he’ll also be involved in strategy and cycle planning for Ford Blue, Ford Performance and Ford Motor Sports. Slatter reports to Jim Baumbick, Ford Blue’s vice president, Product Development Operations and Quality. A 25-year company veteran who’s also worked in China and Australia, Slatter recently was vehicle line director for buses and vans in Ford of Europe and chair of Ford of Britain. He’ll continue to direct U.K. operations until his successor for that position is found and installed.
Dave Bozeman
Bozeman, who came to Ford from Amazon in September of 2022, barely ten months ago, is leaving the company on 16 June to become CEO at Minnesota-based C.H. Robinson, which provides global customers with services including freight transportation, transportation management, brokerage and warehousing. The company last year recorded $25 billion in revenue.
“Dave’s an exceptional leader and partner, and we appreciate his contributions to Ford,” Kumar Galhotra said. “We congratulate him on becoming a CEO and wish him every success.”
“My experiences here will be invaluable as I help another great global company with its next phase of growth,” Bozeman said. Whether he was wearing a track suit at work is unknown here.