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Joe Bakaj was appointed Vice President, Global Product Programs and Vice President, Product Development, Ford Motor Company, effective April 1, 2008. Mr. Bakaj was previously Vice President, Product Development, Ford of Europe, a position he held since September 1, 2005. Also he is a member of Ford of Europe's Executive Operating Committee.
In his new position, he will have more global responsibility within Ford's Product Development leadership team for key B, C, CD and Commercial vehicle segments and programmes. Also, he is responsible for North America product programmes.
Before rejoining Ford of Europe in 2005, he was Senior Managing Executive Officer in charge of Design, Product Planning, Research & Development for Mazda Motor Corp. and responsible for the worldwide development of all Mazda products.
Mr. Bakaj has more than 20 years of product development experience at Ford Motor Company, working in Britain, Germany, Japan and in the United States. His past experiences include powertrain engineering and extensive noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) and chassis work. Notably, he was Vehicle Engineering manager for the 2000 Ford Mondeo, and was named Engineer of the Year in 2000 by UK-based Autocar magazine for his efforts on that vehicle project.
Immediately prior to his position at Mazda, he worked at Ford in Dearborn as Vehicle Engineering Director for North American Truck product development.
Since his return to Ford of Europe in 2005, Mr Bakaj has overseen the development and launch of all of the company's new products, including the 2006 Ford Galaxy and acclaimed S-MAX model, which was voted 'Car of the Year 2007 in Europe, and the latest generation Ford Mondeo, new Ford Kuga crossover and all-new global Ford Fiesta small car.
Born in 1962, Mr Bakaj received a degree in mechanical engineering from City University in London before joining Ford of Britain in 1985.
Mr Bakaj is based at Ford of Europe's John Andrews Engineering Centre product development facility in Merkenich, near Cologne, Germany. He is married with one child, and is fluent in both German and English.