DEARBORN, Michigan
,
March 23, 2022
(press release)
–
Ford is further strengthening its leadership team – hiring two Kiersten Robinson, Ford’s senior Human Resources executive for the past four-plus years and Ford Model e, Ford Blue Earlier this month, Ford President and CEO Jim Farley announced the formation of two distinct, • Ford Blue, which will selectively build out the company’s iconic portfolio of vehicles powered Kiersten Robinson “Kiersten is a transformational leader who has been instrumental in supporting Ford’s business She was made head of Human Resources for Asia Pacific and Africa in 2010, before being Jennifer Waldo Waldo, who will report to Farley, has been leading change in organizations for more than 20 Joining Ford will be a homecoming for Waldo, a Michigan native. She holds a bachelor’s Smith will add to Ford’s policy capabilities as the company carries out priorities in the U.S. and “Chris has devoted his career to shaping progressive energy policy and driving toward a more For the past four-plus years, Smith was senior vice president, Policy, Government and Public For news releases, related materials and high-resolution photos and video, visit www.media.ford.com. Smith, a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, began his career as an engineer About Ford Motor Company Media Equity Investment Community Investment Community Shareholder
highly regarded executives and giving a significant global operating role to an accomplished
longtime senior colleague – as it continues to execute the customer focused Ford+ plan for
growth and value creation.
a 27-year company veteran, is shifting into a key operating role as general manager of Ford’s
popular and profitable family vehicles within Ford Blue. She will also serve as president of
Ford’s operations in Mexico and Canada.
Robinson will be succeeded as chief people and employee experiences officer by Jennifer
Waldo, an accomplished leader with deep technology experience at Apple and General Electric,
who will start with Ford in mid-May. And Christopher Smith, who initiated the policy and
government affairs capability at liquified natural gas producer Cheniere Energy and served for
seven years as an official in the U.S. Department of Energy, is joining Ford on April 4 as chief
government affairs officer.
but strategically interdependent, automotive business units to enhance customer experiences
and expand revenue and profitability:
by internal-combustion engines; reduce costs, simplify operations and improve quality; and
supply engineering and high-volume production expertise to all of Ford, and
• Ford Model e, which will innovate and deliver breakthrough electric vehicles at scale, as
well as revolutionary software and connected vehicle technologies.
In her new position, Robinson will report to Kumar Galhotra, president of Ford Blue.
and global team for nearly three decades through innovative people, talent, employee safety
and workplace experience solutions,” Farley said. “Now she’s taking on a critical global
operating role within Ford Blue as president of Mexico and Canada, as well as leading our
Family Vehicles product line that includes the popular Ford Explorer, Expedition and Everest.”
Robinson joined the company in 1995 as a labor relations representative in Australia, her home
country. A series of Ford HR leadership assignments in Asia Pacific and Europe preceded a
move to the company’s headquarters in Dearborn in 2002.
appointed HR lead for the Americas 2016, with responsibility for global markets added in early
2017. Robinson was named chief human resources officer in 2018, and to her present role in
2020.
years, the past 10 in California’s Silicon Valley. At Apple, she led the team supporting all
nonretail people-related functions, including software, hardware, services, design and
marketing, as well as the global mobility and talent development teams.
“Jen has incredible experience and a track record of helping companies across different
industries build talent and culture to support innovation and growth,” Farley said. “She will be
an invaluable addition as we build a diverse, high-performance team to deliver the Ford+ plan.”
Prior to Apple, Waldo spent a combined 17 years with two GE business units. At GE Digital,
which delivers software and industrial Internet of Things services to industrial companies, she
led the hiring and building of software talent capabilities across GE’s industrial businesses.
Earlier, Waldo was with GE Aviation, starting in several plant HR roles and eventually managing
global HR for sales and the avionics business. She later led organization and talent
development, including inclusion and diversity, recruiting, and executive development, across
the enterprise.
degree in Political Theory from James Madison College at Michigan State University and a
master’s degree in Human Resources and Labor Relations, also from MSU.
Christopher Smith
around the globe – in rapidly evolving areas such as connectivity, electric vehicles and digital
services, and in ways that benefit customers, society and the environment. He succeeds Mitch
Bainwol, who retired from Ford at the end of 2021, and will report to Steven Croley, Ford’s chief
policy officer and general counsel.
sustainable future,” Croley said. “He brings tremendous passion and expertise to Ford as we
shape the future of transportation.”
Affairs, at Cheniere Energy, the world’s second-largest liquified natural gas operator. While
there, Smith led the incorporation of climate principles into Cheniere’s business model and
influenced a modernization of federal regulations.
During the Obama Administration, Smith served as an official at the Department of Energy,
ultimately as assistant secretary for fossil energy. In that role, he oversaw policy, international
engagement, and research and development programs. Earlier in his career, Smith held
managerial and analytical positions at Chevron, focusing primarily on upstream business
development and LNG trading, and analytical roles at Citibank and JPMorgan in New York City
and London.
officer in the U.S. Army, including a tour in Korea. He also has a master’s in Business
Administration from the University of Cambridge in England and a degree in applied
mathematics from American Public University.
# # #
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, that is 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 and deepen the loyalty of those
customers. 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 its Ford Blue internal-combustion and Ford Model e electric vehicles businesses, and
the Ford Pro commercial vehicle services and distribution unit. Additionally, Ford is establishing
leadership positions through Ford Drive mobility solutions, including self-driving technology, and provides
financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 183,000 people worldwide.
More information about the company and its products and services is available at corporate.ford.com.
Contacts: Fixed Income
T.R. Reid
Lynn Antipas Tyson
Karen Rocoff
Inquiries
1.800.555.5259 or
1.313.319.6683 1.914.485.1150 1.313.621.0965 1.313.845.8540
treid22@ford.com ltyson4@ford.com krocoff@ford.com stockinf@ford.com
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