FordDirect announced a leadership transition that will see Dean Stoneley step down as chief executive officer and assume the role of Executive Director, Global Product Marketing at Ford Motor Company, while Chris Thornton will become the new CEO of the joint venture.
Stoneley, who joined FordDirect in June 2022, brings a decade of experience in dealer relations and product marketing. Prior to FordDirect he served as General Manager of North America Truck, where he oversaw the F‑Series and launched the Maverick, and he has held senior marketing roles across multiple regions. His move to Ford’s corporate marketing team is intended to embed dealer‑network insights directly into the company’s global product‑marketing strategy.
Thornton, who has spent nearly 30 years at Ford Motor Company, is known for his work on the company’s digital transformation and dealer‑partner initiatives. His appointment follows a period of strong dealer satisfaction under Stoneley’s leadership, during which FordDirect introduced advanced data‑platform and AI tools to help dealers manage digital marketing and sales.
The transition aligns with Ford’s broader “Ford+” transformation, which emphasizes electric vehicles, software, and customer experience. By placing Stoneley in a senior product‑marketing role, Ford aims to tighten the integration between corporate marketing and the dealer network, ensuring unified brand messaging and a faster rollout of new vehicles and services across its dealer base.
For FordDirect, the change signals a continued focus on leveraging data and technology to support dealers while maintaining the joint‑venture’s independence. The move is expected to enhance coordination between Ford and its dealers, support the company’s dealer‑network evolution, and reinforce the strategic partnership that underpins Ford’s growth objectives.
Overall, the leadership shift is a material event that reflects Ford’s intent to deepen the synergy between its corporate marketing efforts and its dealer network, positioning the company to execute its Ford+ strategy more effectively.
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