Doug Field, a pivotal figure in shaping Ford’s electric vehicle and technological strategies, has announced his departure from the automaker. This development was revealed on Wednesday as part of a significant leadership reorganization within the company.
Field, who joined Ford in 2021, brought an impressive background from Silicon Valley, having previously led Apple’s special projects team and served as senior vice president of engineering at Tesla. His return to Ford was particularly noteworthy, as he had begun his career with the company as a development engineer from 1987 to 1993. His hiring aligned closely with the vision of Ford CEO Jim Farley to position the traditional automaker as a leader in software, electric vehicles, and advanced technologies.
In his role, Field reported directly to Farley and initially focused on managing Ford’s embedded software and hardware operations. This extensive scope included areas such as vehicle controls, enterprise connectivity, feature integration, validation, and architecture. Moreover, he was responsible for the entire tech stack in Ford and Lincoln vehicles, which encompassed infotainment systems, navigation, driver-assistance technologies, connected services, and vehicle cybersecurity.
Field’s influence was evident during his tenure at Ford, as he frequently received accolades from Farley during the company’s earnings calls. He played a crucial role in reorganizing the automaker into three distinct business units: the electric and digital services division, the traditional internal combustion engine sector, and the commercial vehicles unit. Additionally, he spearheaded the initiative behind Ford’s skunkworks program, a confidential internal team dedicated to developing a cost-effective electric vehicle.
The recent leadership restructuring includes the formation of a new “product creation and industrialization” team, to be led by COO Kumar Galhotra. Field’s electric vehicle and design team will now be integrated into this new organization.
This reorganization sets ambitious goals for the future, including achieving an 8% adjusted profit margin for its Ford+ commercial business by 2029. The new team will also oversee plans to refresh 80% of Ford’s North American product lineup and 70% of its global offerings by 2029. Key projects will include the Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV) platform, a mid-sized pickup truck, and the next-generation F-150 and F-Series Super Duty trucks.
The UEV platform was developed through the aforementioned skunkworks program, which is now referred to as the Advanced Development Projects team. Alan Clarke, a former Tesla executive who led the skunkworks initiative, is now the vice president of Advanced Development Projects, positioning Ford to continue its push into the electric vehicle market.
