William Clay Ford Jr.

Executive Chair and Chair of the Board Ford Motor

Last Reviewed: October 1, 2026

Executive Summary

William Clay Ford Jr. has chaired Ford Motor Company’s board since 1999 and has been Executive Chair since 2006, after five years as chief executive. A director since 1988, he chairs the board’s Finance Committee and the Office of the Chair and Chief Executive, which he shares with chief executive Jim Farley. Ford’s proxy notes his long advocacy of sustainability at the company. He is also Vice Chair of the Detroit Lions. Ford Motor ranked No. 22 on the 2026 Fortune 500.

Career Highlights

• Executive Chair of Ford Motor Company since September 2006.
• Chair of the Board since January 1999; director since 1988.
• Chief Executive Officer, October 2001 to September 2006.
• Chair of the Finance Committee since 2007.

Professional Journey

Ford held a number of management positions at Ford Motor Company, including Vice President of its Commercial Truck Vehicle Center. He joined the board in 1988 and chaired its Finance Committee from 1995.

He was elected Chair of the Board in January 1999 and served as Chief Executive Officer from October 2001 until September 2006, when he became Executive Chair. He is Vice Chair of the Detroit Lions, a trustee of The Henry Ford and a member of Business Leaders for Michigan.

Education

No first-party source read for this profile states his education.