DERRICK KUZAK: FORD GROUP VICE PRESIDENT, GLOBAL PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
Derrick Kuzak has overall responsibility for all aspects of Ford Motor Company’s product development system and reports to Alan Mulally, Ford president and chief executive officer. Kuzak also reports to Mark Fields, executive vice president of the company and president of The Americas for North American product development.
In this role, Kuzak leads a team responsible for delivering on Ford’s promise of bringing to markets around the world more products people want with greater efficiency. The new Fiesta is an excellent example of a single vehicle line being developed for sale in a diverse array of global markets.
Kuzak began the global role in December 2006. Prior to that, he joined The Americas leadership team in August 2005, when he was named vice president, North America Engineering. In this role, he was responsible for engineering signoff of all North American vehicles and had direct responsibility for key commodities and common platform parts.
Previously, Kuzak had served as vice president, Product Development, Ford of Europe, where he led design and engineering of vehicles that accounted for a major portion of the European market and significant growth areas in the world’s emerging markets.
Before that, Kuzak was Ford of Europe’s executive director, responsible for current and future medium car programs. He moved to that position in 2000, leading development processes for the most important vehicle segment in Europe, including the Ford Focus.
Kuzak was vehicle line director for Ford’s compact pickup and SUV family in the U.S. from 1997 to 1999, including development of the Ford Escape.
Kuzak joined Ford in 1978 as a research engineer. Born in Detroit in 1951, he holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Detroit, where he also earned a doctorate in systems engineering.
Kuzak was recently selected as a recipient of the 2010 National Academy of Engineering award, the highest and most prestigious award in the engineering community.
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About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 198,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and, until its sale, Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.
April 19, 2010
