Mark Fields served as president and chief executive officer of Ford Motor Company and was a member of the company’s board of directors. He announced his retirement May 22, 2017.
Fields’ strong leadership was critical to the company’s North American restructuring, turnaround at the end of the last decade, and record profits in both 2015 and 2016.
Fields joined Ford in 1989 and progressed through a number of leadership positions in the United States, South America, Asia and Europe. Throughout his career, he has managed a series of turnarounds in many of Ford’s businesses around the world, most notably as president of The Americas, where he led a transformation of the company’s North America operations.
Fields formerly served as chief operating officer, Ford Motor Company, a position to which he was named in December 2012. In this role, and as CEO, he was responsible for overseeing Ford’s fastest global manufacturing expansion in 50 years, and managing the most aggressive global product introduction schedule in the company’s history. Prior to this, Fields served as executive vice president, Ford Motor Company. He was named president, The Americas, in October 2005.
Fields also formerly served as executive vice president, Ford of Europe and Premier Automotive Group, where he led all activities for Ford’s premium vehicle business group, and for Ford brand vehicles manufactured and sold in Europe. Prior to this, Fields was chairman and chief executive officer, Premier Automotive Group.
From 2000 to 2002, he was president and chief executive officer, Mazda Motor Corporation, leading the company through a significant transformation. Fields was named a Global Leader of Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum in 2000 and CNBC Asia Business Leader – Innovator of the Year in 2001.
Earlier in his career, he held a number of positions in both North America and South America, including managing director, Ford Argentina.
Fields was elected to the IBM board of directors in January 2016. He also currently serves as chair of the US-China Business Council.
He was named to Fast Company’s 2016 Most Creative People in Business list for steering Ford in a more adventurous direction. In May 2016, Fields and his wife Jane served as co-chairs for the annual benefit for Robin Hood Foundation – New York’s largest poverty-fighting organization. Fields served as chair for United Way for Southeastern Michigan’s 2013-14 campaign.
Born in January 1961, Fields holds an economics degree from Rutgers University and an MBA from Harvard Graduate School of Business.