The Ford Motor Company has been one of the largest and most successful car companies in the world for many decades. As such, it has had a number of different leaders throughout the years, and the most recent one was William Clay Ford Jr., who was the great-grandson of Henry Ford.
William Clay Ford Jr., who was born on May 3, 1957, became the chairman of the Ford Motor Company in 1999 and served in that position until 2006, when he stepped down in order to focus on other aspects of the company.
During his time as chairman, William Clay Ford Jr. was instrumental in the company’s turnaround from near bankruptcy in 2006 to becoming one of the most profitable car companies in the world. He was also responsible for the strategic decision to focus on quality, safety, and innovation as well as shareholder value.
William Clay Ford Jr. was also credited with bringing in new technologies, such as the voice-controlled SYNC system, and introducing the first hybrid electric vehicles in Ford’s lineup. He was also instrumental in the company’s diversification efforts, as he led the company in expanding into new markets, such as Russia, India, and China.
William Clay Ford Jr. stepped down from his role as Chairman of the Board in 2006, and the company appointed Alan R. Mulally as President and CEO, which marked the end of the Ford family’s leadership of the company after more than 100 years.
William Clay Ford Jr. is still involved with the company, as he serves as the Executive Chairman of the Board, and he is also the largest individual shareholder in the company. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Ford Foundation, the Henry Ford Museum, and the Detroit Economic Club.
The Ford Motor Company has had a long and successful history, and William Clay Ford Jr. was the last of the Ford family to lead the company. His leadership and dedication to the company helped to make it the successful company it is today, and he will always be remembered as one of the greatest executives of the company.
The Last Ford To Lead Ford Motor Company: Who Was He?
The last Ford to lead Ford Motor Company was William Clay Ford Jr., who held the position of executive chairman between 1999 and 2014. He was the great grandson of Henry Ford, who founded the company in 1903. William Clay Ford Jr. took over leadership of the company from his father, the late William Clay Ford Sr.
William Clay Ford Jr. was appointed executive chairman of Ford Motor Company in 1999. He had previously served as a director of the company since 1988, and in 1998 was appointed vice chairman. He was the first of the Fords to serve as CEO and chairman of the company since his great-grandfather Henry.
William Clay Ford Jr.’s tenure as executive chairman marked a period of significant transformation for the company. He took important steps to strengthen Ford’s core automotive business, including the launching of the Ford GT sports car, the Ford Fusion mid-size sedan, and the Ford Edge crossover SUV. He also focused on quality, engineering, and design by investing in new technologies such as the EcoBoost engine.
During his time as executive chairman, William Clay Ford Jr. also made important changes to Ford’s business model. He shifted the company’s focus to global markets, resulting in the establishment of operations in more than 90 countries. He also led the company’s efforts to become a leader in environmental sustainability, launching vehicles with hybrid and electric powertrains and investing in new alternative fuel technologies.
William Clay Ford Jr. stepped down as executive chairman in 2014, but he continues to serve as a director of the company. His successor is current chairman and CEO Bill Ford Jr., who is the great-grandson of Henry Ford and the son of William Clay Ford Sr.
- The last Ford to lead Ford Motor Company was William Clay Ford Jr.
- William Clay Ford Jr. served as executive chairman between 1999 and 2014.
- During his tenure, he took important steps to strengthen the company’s core automotive business.
- He also shifted the company’s focus to global markets and to environmental sustainability.
- His successor is current chairman and CEO Bill Ford Jr.
Henry Ford II: The Face Of The Last Ford-Led Automaker
Henry Ford II was the last Ford family member to run the Ford Motor Company. He was the son of Edsel Ford and the grandson of Henry Ford. Henry II took over the company after his father’s death in 1943. He was appointed president and CEO by the board of directors in 1945.
Henry II quickly established Ford as a leader in the auto industry. He spearheaded the development of the iconic Ford Mustang and the popular Continental Mark II. He also oversaw the launch of the iconic Lincoln Continental line of luxury cars. He was instrumental in the development of the Ford Fiesta, the first American-made subcompact car, and the first generation of the popular Ford F-Series pickup.
Henry II also stayed true to his family’s legacy of innovation. He was responsible for the company’s entry into the jet age, when it began producing the Ford Trimotor plane in 1948. He also oversaw the debut of the jet-powered Ford Aerostar in 1956.
Under Henry II’s leadership, Ford’s market share increased from 8.6 percent in 1945 to 16.9 percent in 1966. It was the second-largest automaker in the U.S., behind General Motors. He also led the company to profitability during his time at the helm, posting profits of $2.3 billion in 1965.
Henry II became chairman of the board of directors in 1960 and served in that role until 1979. He retired from the company in 1979 and died in 1987 at the age of 70. He was the last Ford family member to lead the automaker. The company is now led by William Clay Ford, Jr., a great-grandson of Henry Ford.
The last Ford to run Ford was William Clay Ford Sr., who served as chairman of the company from October 1945 until his death in May of 2014.
No, William Clay Ford Sr. was one of four children of Henry Ford II and was preceded as chairman by his older brother, Henry Ford III.
Ford Motor Company is currently led by president and CEO Jim Hackett, who was appointed in May 2017.
William Clay Ford Sr. was the chairman and CEO of Ford Motor Company from 1945 to 2014, and was also a great-grandson of company founder Henry Ford.
The Ford family relinquished control of the company in June 2018 when they sold their remaining shares of common stock.
Ford is still an independent company, and is not owned by any other company.
No, many members of the Ford family have worked in various roles at Ford Motor Company throughout its history.
William Clay Ford Sr. remained a member of the Ford Motor Company board until his death in 2014, and was also owner of the NFL’s Detroit Lions.
Yes, William Clay Ford Sr. had three siblings that worked for Ford, including his older brother Henry Ford III, who became chairman of the company in 1945.
