List of leaders of Ford Motor Company
Updated: 10/31/2025, 9:46:36 PM Wikipedia source
Tables
CEO and Chairman of Ford Motor Company · CEOs and Chairmen
John S. Gray
John S. Gray
No.
1
Name
John S. Gray
Took office
1903
Left office
1906
Tenure
3 years
Role
CEO
Henry Ford
Henry Ford
No.
2
Name
Henry Ford
Took office
1906
Left office
1945
Tenure
39 years
Role
CEO
Henry Ford II
Henry Ford II
No.
3
Name
Henry Ford II
Took office
1945
Left office
1979
Tenure
34 years
Role
CEO
Ernest R. Breech
Ernest R. Breech
No.
–
Name
Ernest R. Breech
Took office
1955
Left office
1960
Tenure
5 years
Role
Chairman
Henry Ford II
Henry Ford II
No.
–
Name
Henry Ford II
Took office
1960
Left office
March 13, 1980
Tenure
19.4 years
Role
Chairman
Philip Caldwell
Philip Caldwell
No.
4
Name
Philip Caldwell
Took office
1979
Left office
February 1, 1985
Tenure
5.3 years
Role
CEO
Philip Caldwell
Philip Caldwell
No.
–
Name
Philip Caldwell
Took office
March 13, 1980
Left office
February 1, 1985
Tenure
4.9 years
Role
Chairman
Donald Petersen
Donald Petersen
No.
5
Name
Donald Petersen
Took office
February 1, 1985
Left office
March 1, 1990
Tenure
5.1 years
Role
CEO and Chairman
Harold Arthur Poling
Harold Arthur Poling
No.
6
Name
Harold Arthur Poling
Took office
March 1, 1990
Left office
1993
Tenure
3.6 years
Role
CEO and Chairman
Alexander Trotman
Alexander Trotman
No.
7
Name
Alexander Trotman
Took office
November 1993
Left office
December 31, 1998
Tenure
5.2 years
Role
CEO and Chairman
Jacques Nasser
Jacques Nasser
No.
8
Name
Jacques Nasser
Took office
January 1, 1999
Left office
2001
Tenure
2.8 years
Role
CEO
William Clay Ford Jr.
William Clay Ford Jr.
No.
–
Name
William Clay Ford Jr.
Took office
January 1, 1999
Left office
September 5, 2006
Tenure
7.7 years
Role
Chairman
William Clay Ford Jr.
William Clay Ford Jr.
No.
9
Name
William Clay Ford Jr.
Took office
October 30, 2001
Left office
September 5, 2006
Tenure
4.8 years
Role
CEO
William Clay Ford Jr.
William Clay Ford Jr.
No.
–
Name
William Clay Ford Jr.
Took office
September 5, 2006
Left office
Present
Tenure
19.1 years
Role
Executive Chairman
Alan Mulally
Alan Mulally
No.
10
Name
Alan Mulally
Took office
September 5, 2006
Left office
July 1, 2014
Tenure
7.8 years
Role
CEO
Mark Fields
Mark Fields
No.
11
Name
Mark Fields
Took office
July 1, 2014
Left office
May 22, 2017
Tenure
2.9 years
Role
CEO
James Hackett
James Hackett
No.
12
Name
James Hackett
Took office
May 22, 2017
Left office
September 30, 2020
Tenure
3.4 years
Role
CEO
Jim Farley
Jim Farley
No.
13
Name
Jim Farley
Took office
October 1, 2020
Left office
Present
Tenure
5 years
Role
CEO
| No. | Name | Took office | Left office | Tenure | Role |
| 1 | John S. Gray | 1903 | 1906 | 3 years | CEO |
| 2 | Henry Ford | 1906 | 1945 | 39 years | CEO |
| 3 | Henry Ford II | 1945 | 1979 | 34 years | CEO |
| – | Ernest R. Breech | 1955 | 1960 | 5 years | Chairman |
| – | Henry Ford II | 1960 | March 13, 1980 | years | Chairman |
| 4 | Philip Caldwell | 1979 | February 1, 1985 | years | CEO |
| – | Philip Caldwell | March 13, 1980 | February 1, 1985 | years | Chairman |
| 5 | Donald Petersen | February 1, 1985 | March 1, 1990 | years | CEO and Chairman |
| 6 | Harold Arthur Poling | March 1, 1990 | 1993 | years | CEO and Chairman |
| 7 | Alexander Trotman | November 1993 | December 31, 1998 | years | CEO and Chairman |
| 8 | Jacques Nasser | January 1, 1999 | 2001 | years | CEO |
| – | William Clay Ford Jr. | January 1, 1999 | September 5, 2006 | years | Chairman |
| 9 | William Clay Ford Jr. | October 30, 2001 | September 5, 2006 | years | CEO |
| – | William Clay Ford Jr. | September 5, 2006 | Present | years | Executive Chairman |
| 10 | Alan Mulally | September 5, 2006 | July 1, 2014 | years | CEO |
| 11 | Mark Fields | July 1, 2014 | May 22, 2017 | years | CEO |
| 12 | James Hackett | May 22, 2017 | September 30, 2020 | years | CEO |
| 13 | Jim Farley | October 1, 2020 | Present | 5 years | CEO |
President of Ford Motor Company · Presidents
John S. Gray
John S. Gray
No.
1
Name
John S. Gray
Took office
June 17, 1903
Left office
October 22, 1906
Henry Ford
Henry Ford
No.
2
Name
Henry Ford
Took office
October 22, 1906
Left office
January 1, 1919
Edsel Ford
Edsel Ford
No.
3
Name
Edsel Ford
Took office
January 1, 1919
Left office
May 26, 1943
Henry Ford
Henry Ford
No.
4
Name
Henry Ford
Took office
May 26, 1943
Left office
September 21, 1945
Henry Ford II
Henry Ford II
No.
5
Name
Henry Ford II
Took office
September 21, 1945
Left office
November 9, 1960
Robert McNamara
Robert McNamara
No.
6
Name
Robert McNamara
Took office
November 9, 1960
Left office
January 1, 1961
Notes
The first non-Ford family member to be president. Left to become Secretary of Defense after just two months.
John Dykstra
John Dykstra
No.
7
Name
John Dykstra
Took office
January 1, 1961
Left office
May 1, 1963
Arjay Miller
Arjay Miller
No.
8
Name
Arjay Miller
Took office
May 1, 1963
Left office
February 6, 1968
Semon Knudsen
Semon Knudsen
No.
9
Name
Semon Knudsen
Took office
February 6, 1968
Left office
September 1969
Robert Hampson
Robert Hampson
No.
–
Name
Robert Hampson
Took office
1969
Left office
1970
Notes
President of Non-Automotive
Robert Stevenson
Robert Stevenson
No.
–
Name
Robert Stevenson
Took office
1969
Left office
1970
Notes
President of Automotive International
Lee Iacocca
Lee Iacocca
No.
–
Name
Lee Iacocca
Took office
1969
Left office
1970
Notes
President of Automotive North America
Lee Iacocca
Lee Iacocca
No.
10
Name
Lee Iacocca
Took office
December 10, 1970
Left office
July 13, 1978
Philip Caldwell
Philip Caldwell
No.
11
Name
Philip Caldwell
Took office
October 16, 1978
Left office
March 13, 1980
Donald Petersen
Donald Petersen
No.
12
Name
Donald Petersen
Took office
March 13, 1980
Left office
February 1, 1985
Harold Arthur Poling
Harold Arthur Poling
No.
13
Name
Harold Arthur Poling
Took office
February 1, 1985
Left office
October 13, 1987
Philip Benton
Philip Benton
No.
14
Name
Philip Benton
Took office
1990
Left office
January 1, 1993
Jacques Nasser
Jacques Nasser
No.
15
Name
Jacques Nasser
Took office
1999
Left office
2001
William Clay Ford, Jr.
William Clay Ford, Jr.
No.
16
Name
William Clay Ford, Jr.
Took office
2001
Left office
2001
Nick Scheele
Nick Scheele
No.
17
Name
Nick Scheele
Took office
October 2001
Left office
2004
Notes
President and COO
Nick Scheele
Nick Scheele
No.
17
Name
Nick Scheele
Took office
April 2004
Left office
February 2005
Notes
President
Jim Padilla
Jim Padilla
No.
18
Name
Jim Padilla
Took office
February 2005
Left office
April 2006
Notes
President and COO
Alan Mulally
Alan Mulally
No.
19
Name
Alan Mulally
Took office
September 2006
Left office
June 2014
Notes
President and CEO
Mark Fields
Mark Fields
No.
20
Name
Mark Fields
Took office
July 1, 2014
Left office
May 2017
Notes
President and CEO
Jim Hackett
Jim Hackett
No.
21
Name
Jim Hackett
Took office
May 2017
Left office
October 2020
Notes
President and CEO
James D. Farley Jr.
James D. Farley Jr.
No.
22
Name
James D. Farley Jr.
Took office
October 2020
Left office
present
Notes
President and CEO
| No. | Name | Took office | Left office | Notes |
| 1 | John S. Gray | June 17, 1903 | October 22, 1906 | |
| 2 | Henry Ford | October 22, 1906 | January 1, 1919 | |
| 3 | Edsel Ford | January 1, 1919 | May 26, 1943 | |
| 4 | Henry Ford | May 26, 1943 | September 21, 1945 | |
| 5 | Henry Ford II | September 21, 1945 | November 9, 1960 | |
| 6 | Robert McNamara | November 9, 1960 | January 1, 1961 | The first non-Ford family member to be president. Left to become Secretary of Defense after just two months. |
| 7 | John Dykstra | January 1, 1961 | May 1, 1963 | |
| 8 | Arjay Miller | May 1, 1963 | February 6, 1968 | |
| 9 | Semon Knudsen | February 6, 1968 | September 1969 | |
| Office vacant September 1969 – December 10, 1970 | ||||
| – | Robert Hampson | 1969 | 1970 | President of Non-Automotive |
| – | Robert Stevenson | 1969 | 1970 | President of Automotive International |
| – | Lee Iacocca | 1969 | 1970 | President of Automotive North America |
| 10 | Lee Iacocca | December 10, 1970 | July 13, 1978 | |
| 11 | Philip Caldwell | October 16, 1978 | March 13, 1980 | |
| 12 | Donald Petersen | March 13, 1980 | February 1, 1985 | |
| 13 | Harold Arthur Poling | February 1, 1985 | October 13, 1987 | |
| Office vacant October 13, 1987 – 1990 | ||||
| 14 | Philip Benton | 1990 | January 1, 1993 | |
| Office vacant January 1, 1993 – 1999 | ||||
| 15 | Jacques Nasser | 1999 | 2001 | |
| 16 | William Clay Ford, Jr. | 2001 | 2001 | |
| 17 | Nick Scheele | October 2001 | 2004 | President and COO |
| 17 | Nick Scheele | April 2004 | February 2005 | President |
| 18 | Jim Padilla | February 2005 | April 2006 | President and COO |
| office vacant April to September 2006 | ||||
| 19 | Alan Mulally | September 2006 | June 2014 | President and CEO |
| 20 | Mark Fields | July 1, 2014 | May 2017 | President and CEO |
| 21 | Jim Hackett | May 2017 | October 2020 | President and CEO |
| 22 | James D. Farley Jr. | October 2020 | present | President and CEO |
References
- Motor Trendhttps://www.motortrend.com/news/news060421-ford-padilla-retire/
- Henry Ford Museumhttps://web.archive.org/web/20140210022535/http://hfmgv.org/exhibits/fmc/chrono.asp
- Democrat and Chroniclehttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/67932073/henry-ford-ii-gives-up-chairmanship-at/
- Washington Monthlyhttps://web.archive.org/web/20070311033314/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1316/is_v18/ai_4473382
- The Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/67934033/caldwell-leaves-as-chairman-of-ford/
- Detroit Free Presshttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/67936782/petersen-hands-over-fords-keys-27-feb/
- NPRhttps://web.archive.org/web/20021020114244/https://www.npr.org/programs/npc/2000/000727.jnasser.html
- CNNhttps://money.cnn.com/2001/10/30/ceos/ford/
- Ford Mediahttps://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/people/james-d--farley--jr-.html#:~:text=James%20%E2%80%9CJim%E2%80%9D%20D.,%2C%20effective%20October%201%2C%202020.
- lehigh.eduhttps://omeka.lehigh.edu/exhibits/show/iacocca/iacocca-before-chrysler/ford
- Detroit Free Presshttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/67938226/2-units-formed-at-ford-14-oct-1987/
- The Baltimore Sunhttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1992-11-13-1992318023-story.html
- The Henry Ford Museumhttps://www.thehenryford.org/collections-and-research/digital-resources/popular-topics/ford-company-chronology/
- Automotive Newshttps://www.autonews.com/article/20030616/SUB/306160775/henry-ii-ends-iacocca-s-quest-for-the-top-spot-at-ford-motor
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/02/obituaries/lee-iacocca-dead.html
- Chicago Tribunehttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/67929282/philip-caldwell-named-president-of-ford/
- Automotive Newshttps://www.autonews.com/article/20140718/OEM02/140719838/nick-scheele-former-president-and-coo-of-ford-dies-at-age-70
- Ford Newsroom, "ALAN MULALLY Retired President and Chief Executive Officer"https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/people/alan-mulally.html
- media.ford.comhttps://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2017/05/22/ford-appoints-jim-hackett-as-ceo.html
- media.ford.comhttps://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/2020/08/04/ford-announces-jim-hackett-to-retire-as-president-and-ceo.html
- Ford Newsroom, "JAMES D. FARLEY, JR. President and Chief Executive Officer"https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/people/james-d-farley-jr-.html