- Birgit Behrendt's career in Ford purchasing elected as case study at "Generation Female CEO's Summit 2009", organized by German business magazine Capital
- She is responsible for the second largest account within Ford Purchasing behind the Americas and has a team of 600 people globally
- According to recent supplier relationship surveys, Ms. Behrendt has played a key role in helping to increase Ford of Europe's attractiveness to suppliers in the last three years
COLOGNE/KÖNIGSTEIN, November 25, 2009 – Birgit Behrendt, vice president, purchasing, Ford of Europe, and executive director, global programmes, today was invited to speak at the German business media Capital "Generation Female CEO's Summit."
Currently the only woman of the Board at any automaker in Europe, Ms. Behrendt presented both her professional insights at the summit and emphasized the need to create beneficial working relationships between suppliers and manufacturers.
Ms. Behrendt, 50, who has spent her entire 30 years as a business professional with Ford, is responsible for overseeing purchasing for the Ford brand throughout Europe. She was appointed to this position in February 2004, and is responsible for the second largest account within Ford purchasing behind the Americas. She has a team of 600 people, 35 percent of whom are women. In April 2008, Ms. Behrendt additionally assumed the position of Executive Director for Global Programmes.
This was the first Capital Summit, organized in conjunction with the Business Women Network "Generation CEO" founded in 2007, and its aim is to bring together aspiring business women from the industry in Europe.
In her case study presentation Ms Behrendt was very clear about the value of viable business relationships: "According to the latest 2009 OEM Supplier Survey, Ford has made the largest improvement in overall attractiveness to suppliers in the last three years. This is a great recognition, yet builds on a tremendous team effort, and is another proof for the effectiveness of a solid network, which includes Ford as well as our suppliers", she said.
"For Ford as a global company, supplier relationships are essential to the business. Therefore it is crucial not only to strengthen the collaboration, but also include suppliers as partners and drive mutual profitability and growth, since suppliers contribute significantly to the value equation and innovation of our products. For that reason, we implemented the 'Aligned Business Framework' in 2005, a global strategic supplier network, which today includes about 82 suppliers, chosen for long-term relationships and closer collaboration", said Birgit Behrendt.
Before being appointed to the position of vice president, purchasing, Birgit Behrendt worked in Dearborn. Michigan, in Ford's US headquarters as a director for global body and exterior purchasing from September 2000 to February 2004. Prior to September 2000, she was a program manager for vehicle procurement operations and manager global strategy for the purchasing business office in the US.
Ms. Behrendt joined Ford-Werke AG in Cologne in 1978 as a commercial apprentice. She holds a business degree from the Administration and Business Academy in Cologne. She also is a member of the supervisory board of Ford-Werke GmbH.
In January 2008 Birgit Behrendt was named "Woman of the Year" by the automotive magazine "Automotive News Europe". She was ranked among the "Top 25 Business Women in Germany" by the newspaper "Financial Times Deutschland" in 2008 and 2009.
Birgit Behrendt, Executive Director, Global Programs and Vice President, Purchasing, Ford of Europe.
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Ford of Europe is responsible for producing, selling and servicing Ford brand vehicles in 51 individual markets and employs approximately 67,100 employees. Ford is Europe's No.2 best-selling vehicle brand. In addition to Ford Motor Credit Company, Ford of Europe operations include Ford Customer Service Division and 22 manufacturing facilities, including joint ventures. The first Ford cars were shipped to Europe in 1903 – the same year Ford Motor Company was founded. European production started in 1911.