EV PRODUCTION IN CANADA

Ford Motor Co. of Canada names veteran executive Bev Goodman as CEO

THE SOUND OF ANOTHER GLASS CEILING BREAKING

Updated Mon., February 1, 2021, 


OAKVILLE, Ont. — Ford Motor Co. of Canada Ltd. has promoted executive Bev Goodman, a 25-year veteran of the Oakville automaker, to the job of president and CEO.

The company said she replaces Dean Stoneley, who will be appointed to the newly created position of general manager, North America truck, at Ford Motor Co.

Goodman began her career at Ford of Canada as a finance intern and she had experience in a variety of roles at the automaker including finance, parts and service, and sales and marketing.

She most recently was Ford of Canada’s director of marketing communications.

“At this time of rapid change in the auto industry, Bev demonstrates a deep understanding of what matters most to our customers now, and in the future," Kumar Galhotra, Ford's president of the Americas and International Markets Group, said in a statement.

"She also has a proven track record of working collaboratively with our dealer partners and a commitment to innovation as Ford accelerates its efforts to deliver high-quality, high-value vehicles and services.”

Goodman said she looks forward to "embracing new ways to serve our customers across the country" as the company introduces vehicles like the Mustang Mach-E, Bronco and F-150 hybrid.

“We’ll focus on delivering the benefits of electrification and connectivity to consumers, including plans for the C$1.8-billion transformation of our Oakville Assembly Complex to a battery electric vehicle manufacturing facility and continuing to grow our advanced connectivity and innovation centres,” she said in a statement.

Ford employs 7,000 people in Canada, while an additional 18,000 work in more than 400 Ford and Ford-Lincoln dealerships.

The automaker announced in September that it would spend $1.95 billion in its Canadian plants, including $1.8 billion toward the production of electric vehicles in Oakville, Ont.

In September, Unifor members working at Ford of Canada voted 81 per cent in favour of a new three-year collective agreement.

Goodman's promotion to president and CEO is effective immediately, the company said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 1, 2021.