Ford EV and technology chief leaves automaker

Doug Field, a renowned executive who has led Ford’s electric vehicle (EV) and technology strategy for the past five years, is leaving Ford. Field’s resignation was announced Wednesday as part of a broader reorganization of the company’s leadership.

Field joined Ford in 2021 with a strong Silicon Valley resume, including leading Apple’s special projects team and serving as senior vice president of engineering at Tesla. His hiring was more than just a return to his professional roots. (Field began his career at Ford as a development engineer from 1987 to 1993.) The hire was intended to advance Ford CEO Jim Farley’s vision of turning the legacy automaker into a leader in software, EVs and other advanced technologies.

Field reported directly to Farley and was initially tasked with overseeing the company’s embedded software and hardware operations, covering vehicle controls, enterprise connectivity, capabilities, integration and validation, architecture and platforms, driver assistance technologies, and digital engineering tools. In fact, this puts him in charge of the design, development and implementation of the entire technology stack used in Ford and Lincoln vehicles, including infotainment, navigation, driver assistance technologies, connected services and vehicle cybersecurity.

Field was a prominent figure at Ford who Farley often praised on the company’s earnings calls. He was one of the key leaders when the automaker split its business into three units: an EV and digital services division, a traditional internal combustion engine division, and a commercial vehicle division. And he was behind Ford’s Skunkworks program, a secret internal team working to build low-cost electric vehicles.

Under the reorganization announced Wednesday, Ford has created a “Product Development and Industrialization” team led by COO Kumar Galhotra. Ford’s electric vehicle and design teams, led by Field, will join this new organization.

The new organization has ambitious goals that include an adjusted margin of 8% for its Ford+ commercial business by 2029. The team will also oversee Ford’s plan to renew 80% of its North American portfolio and 70% of its global portfolio by 2029. This includes the Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV) platform, midsize pickups, and the next-generation F-150 and F-Series Super Duty trucks.

The UEV platform was developed by the Ford Skunkworks program, now known as the Advanced Development Project Team. Alan Clarke, a former Tesla executive who led the Skunkworks program, is now vice president of advanced development projects.