Ford Motor Co. appoints Kumar Galhotra as COO

Ford Motor Co. appointed Kumar Galhotra as COO 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. 

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