Kumar Galhotra was named chief operating officer in October 2023.  In that role, he leads Ford’s global industrial system, spanning all product development and cycle planning, supply chain management, and manufacturing, with objectives to deliver fantastic products by maximizing quality and minimizing costs and complexity. Galhotra reports to Ford president and CEO Jim Farley.

Previously, Galhotra was president, Ford Blue, and before that president of Ford Americas and the company’s International Markets Group, with responsibilities including profitability of those business units.

Galhotra earlier served as president, North America, a position he was named to in 2018, leading all aspects of Ford’s business in the region. He’s also been group vice president, Lincoln, and Ford’s chief marketing officer.  In the marketing role, he led efforts to connect more closely with customers by identifying new opportunities to serve them. His focus included shifting investments towards product categories that played to the company’s strengths, and developing more effective brand communications including digital services, mobility and autonomy.

Since joining Ford in 1988, he has served in a variety of other leadership positions, including in product development and product strategy. Among the assignments, he led introduction of the Ford Ranger in South America in 1998; was chief engineer for the Ford Escape, Mazda Tribute and Mercury Mariner in the early 2000s; and was vehicle programs director for five vehicle lines in the mid-2000s.  In addition, his team oversaw development of the all-new Ford Ranger global compact pickup truck.  Between 2005 and 2008, Galhotra was assigned to Mazda’s headquarters in Hiroshima, Japan, where he was responsible for program management and product planning worldwide.

Galhotra grew up in India and has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan.