Elena Ford Named Chief Customer Experience Officer. John Savona to Head Ford North America Manufacturing

“Our goal is to be the most trusted company and we must deliver the most trusted experience for our customers.”

Ford Motor Company announced that Elena Ford has been named Chief Customer Experience Officer. In this role, she will lead the organization responsible for creating a world-class customer experience throughout the entire ownership cycle. The company also announced that John Savona is named vice president, North American Manufacturing.

In this role, Elena Ford, 52, will report to Joe Hinrichs, Ford president, Global Operations. The realignment of customer experience under Global Operations will allow Elena Ford, 52, to work with Ford Customer Service Division and the Quality organization “to connect the design and implementation of a world-class customer experience system that connects the interactions between Ford and its customers around the world. In her role, she will continue to be closely integrated with the Sales and Marketing organization and global dealer network.”

Working with Ford’s business operations around the world, Elena Ford will lead a team tasked with identifying key customer pain points that have the highest potential to drive improved business results, from digital sites to call centers and service bays.

“Our customers see Ford as one company and they don’t distinguish between the company, our call center and the dealers,” Elena Ford said. “Our goal is to be the most trusted company and we must deliver the most trusted experience for our customers.”

Also, today, the company announced John Savona is appointed vice president, North American Manufacturing. At the same time, he is elected a company officer. In this role, Savona, 50, will be responsible for Ford’s North America manufacturing footprint – the company’s largest with more than 30 manufacturing plants.

“John has nearly 30 years of experience in Ford manufacturing, having held leadership positions in many of our manufacturing facilities and been responsible for key areas including global quality improvement,” said Gary Johnson, group vice president, Manufacturing and Labor Affairs.

Previously, Savona served as Ford’s director of Global Manufacturing Quality with responsibility for ensuring continuous improvement in quality in all Ford manufacturing facilities globally. He began his career with Ford in 1989 as a security officer at Ford’s Wayne (Mich.) Assembly Plant after three years of service in the U.S. Army. Throughout his time at Ford, he has held a variety of roles with increasing responsibility in the manufacturing organization.