Joe Hinrichs is president, Automotive, effective May 1, 2019, reporting to Jim Hackett, Ford president and CEO. In this role, Hinrichs leads Ford’s drive to strengthen its Automotive operations and deliver a sustainable global EBIT margin of 8 percent. Hinrichs has responsibility for Ford’s global business units – North America, South America, Europe, China and the International Markets Group. He also oversees both the Ford and Lincoln brands.
In addition, Hinrichs leads all of Ford’s automotive skill teams including Product Development, Purchasing, Enterprise Product Line Management, Manufacturing & Labor Affairs, Marketing, Sales & Service, Quality & New Model Launch, Sustainability, Environmental & Safety Engineering, Information Technology, Customer Experience, and Government Affairs.
Previously, Hinrichs served as executive vice president and president of Global Operations, Ford Motor Company, in which he was responsible for overseeing Ford’s global operations, which included Manufacturing and Labor Affairs, Quality, Information Technology, Sustainability, Environmental and Safety Engineering, Global Order to Delivery as well as the Ford Customer Service Division.
From June 2017 to August 2018, Hinrichs also led Ford’s Product Development and Purchasing organizations as part of the Global Operations organization.
Prior to that, Hinrichs served as executive vice president and president, The Americas, a position he held since Dec. 1, 2012. In this role, he was responsible for leading all aspects of Ford’s North American and South American business units.
Prior to leading The Americas, Hinrichs served as group vice president and president of Asia Pacific and Africa beginning in December 2009. Hinrichs led Ford’s Asia Pacific growth plan overseeing the construction of nine new manufacturing plants and spearheading a commitment to bring more than 50 new vehicles and powertrains to the region by mid-decade. He oversaw all of Ford’s operations and partnerships within the Asia Pacific and Africa region, including those with Changan, JMC, and Mazda. Hinrichs was also Chairman and CEO of Ford China from November 2010 to December 2011.
Previously, Hinrichs served as group vice president, Global Manufacturing and Labor Affairs, responsible for the operations of 105 assembly, stamping and powertrain plants worldwide, and overseeing the company’s global engineering support for stamping, vehicle and powertrain manufacturing.
Hinrichs also had global responsibility for the company’s Material Planning and Logistics, Ford Production System, Manufacturing Business Office and Labor Affairs organizations, as well as Automotive Components Holdings, the Ford-managed temporary business entity comprised of former Visteon Corp. plants and facilities in the United States and Mexico.
From September 2006 to December 2007, Hinrichs was vice president, North America Manufacturing. From October 2005 to September 2006, he was vice president of Vehicle Operations, responsible for 19 assembly plants and eight stamping and tool and die plants in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Prior to that, Hinrichs served as president and CEO of Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited. There, he led Ford of Canada’s operations, including the national headquarters, six regional sales offices, five vehicle assembly and engine manufacturing plants, two parts distribution centers, and affiliates including Ford Credit, Jaguar, Volvo, Land Rover and Hertz.
Before moving to Canada, Hinrichs was director of manufacturing, Vehicle Operations, responsible for the manufacturing, quality, and launch of several Ford sport utility vehicles and trucks produced at six assembly plants.
Hinrichs was executive director of the company’s Material Planning and Logistics organization, from April 2002 to July 2003. In this capacity, he was responsible for material planning, production control, scheduling, inventory management, logistics and total material flow at all Ford’s manufacturing facilities worldwide.
He joined Ford in December 2000 as plant manager of the Van Dyke Transmission Plant in Sterling Heights, Michigan.
Prior to joining Ford, Hinrichs was a partner and senior vice president of Ryan Enterprises Group, a manufacturing investment group in Chicago. Early in his career, Hinrichs spent 10 years at General Motors in various positions in engineering and manufacturing, including plant manager.
Hinrichs was named the 2013 Fortune Magazine Reader’s Choice winner as Businessperson of the Year for the automotive industry. Hinrichs was also named one of the 10 inaugural winners of the Shanghai Pudong Business Person of the Year award in 2013 in recognition of his leadership in growing Ford’s business in China. He was the recipient of the 2008 Shien-Ming Wu Manufacturing Leadership Award, which recognizes manufacturing leaders for their visionary and strategic thinking, courage and impact on the manufacturing industry. Hinrichs was also named to Automotive News’ 2007 All-Stars for Manufacturing. He was recognized for leading Ford’s North American manufacturing team to help boost vehicle quality and improve plant productivity.
Hinrichs belongs to the CEO Climate Dialogue, a group of leading companies and NGOs working together to advance climate action in the U.S. Congress. He is a board member of Rivian, which is developing vehicles, technology and services that inspire people to get out and explore the world. He also is a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Dayton. He was chairman of the National Minority Supplier Development Council from 2016 to 2019. Hinrichs also was a member of the Board of the Directors of the U.S.-China Business Council from 2010 through 2013. He currently serves at Campaign Chair for the United Way of Southeast Michigan.
Hinrichs served as campaign co-chair for the Michigan Education Excellence Foundation and was a member of the Workforce Development Board for the city of Detroit from 2013 – 2015. He also was co-chairman of the 2006 – 2009 Michigan March of Dimes WalkAmerica campaigns, co-chair of Ford’s 2008 and 2009 Juvenile Diabetes campaign, and operating chairman of the Boy Scouts of America’s 2007 – 2009 Friends of Scouting Leadership campaigns. Hinrichs was the 2013 Arthritis Foundation’s Tribute to Excellence honoree celebrating his leadership in the community.
Born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1966, Hinrichs earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering magna cum laude from the University of Dayton (Ohio) in 1989, and a master’s degree in business administration from the Harvard Business School in 1994 as a GM Fellow. He also received an honorary as well as an honorary doctor of humane letters from Tiffin University in 2019 and an honorary doctor of science and business administration from Cleary University in 2014.
Hinrichs and his wife, Maria, have three children.