Two Ford family members poised to join carmaker’s board

The next generation of the Ford family is set to join the board of the Michigan carmaker.

Alexandra Ford English, 33, and Henry Ford III, 40, will stand for election at the company’s annual shareholder meeting on May 13. Both are great-grandchildren of Henry Ford, who founded the car and truck manufacturer in 1903.

At the same time, Edsel Ford, 72, will step down after serving on the company’s 10-director board for 33 years. He and Bill Ford Jr, who is continuing as executive chairman, both joined in 1988.

The Ford family has 40 per cent voting power in the company because of a two-tier stock structure.

“Henry and Alexandra are both passionate and capable young business leaders who care deeply about Ford Motor Company,” Bill Ford Jr said.

The changing of the guard comes as Ford remains embroiled in a multiyear, $11bn global restructuring. Chief executive Jim Farley, who started in the top job last August, is re-evaluating unprofitable parts of the business while steering Ford through the industry-wide transition to electric vehicles.

Henry Ford III is the son of Edsel Ford, and Ford English is the daughter of Bill Ford Jr.

Ford English, who joined the company four years ago, is a director of corporate strategy, where she is “responsible for enterprise, connectivity and digital network strategic plans”. She is also Ford’s representative on the board of electric truckmaker Rivian, in which the company owns an equity stake.

Henry Ford III has been at the automaker since 2006, holding roles in labour relations, purchasing, corporate strategy and marketing and sales. The company said he “played a key role in the launch of the latest Ford GT” sports car.

The United Auto Workers union, while noting it will always have differences with management, said adding the new, younger family members continued the company’s tradition of taking the long view.

“In an age of short-term Wall Street focused management decisions, Ford Motor Company has benefited from the stability and continuity of the Ford family’s involvement in the management of one of America’s most iconic corporations,” the union said.