Ford heir Elena Ford gets one of two big promotions approved by Ford Motor board.
Two familiar names have been promoted by the Ford Motor Co. board of directors.
Elena Ford, great-granddaughter of the company’s founder, was tapped to serve as vice president leader of the company’s new Global Dealer and Consumer Experience organization, while Ray Day, a familiar figure to journalists following the company, was named group vice president of communications. He has led the Communications team as its vice president for the past five years. Both appointments are effective on March 1.
Day, who continues to report to Ford chief operating officer Mark Fields, remains responsible for the company’s global external and internal communications and public relations activities. His role includes building Ford’s reputation globally and leading communications efforts aimed at reach customers, employees, dealers, suppliers, news media, communities, governments and policy-makers.
“Ray Day is a proven global leader who continues to take the company’s communications capabilities and the telling of our Ford story to increasingly higher levels,” said Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally. “Ray and his team are ensuring that everyone associated with Ford understands our One Ford plan and the progress we are making delivering profitable growth.”
Ford communications chief Ray Day.
In her new role, Elena Ford will report to Jim Farley, Executive Vice President, Global Marketing, Sales, Service and Lincoln. The new Global Dealer and Consumer Experience organization is being created to take the company’s dealers and consumers’ experiences with dealers “to the next level,” the maker says. This includes global standards and best-practice sharing for planning, training and customer interaction at both the dealer level and within the company.
In addition, the new organization will be responsible for the Marketing, Sales and Service interface for Ford’s global order-to-delivery system, which is a company-wide effort to improve vehicle quality and delivery time from the factory to dealers and customers. The goal is to streamline the company’s current multiple global IT systems into a lean, efficient and fast-paced vehicle ordering and delivery process for customers and dealers going forward.
“Our new Global Dealer and Consumer Experience organization is the next step in our One Ford plan for profitable growth,” Farley said. “Our new vehicles today are recognized around the world as leading in quality, fuel efficiency, safety, smart design and value. Now, we plan to bring that same standard of excellence to the dealer experience for our Ford and Lincoln customers worldwide.
“Elena Ford is the perfect leader to work with our global dealers and to help realize the opportunity we have in upgrading the consumer experience there,” Farley said.. “Elena has extensive experience in global marketing, and her passion for our dealers is well-known around the world.”