Lyle Watters, a long-serving global leader at Ford and currently vice president and general manager of Passenger Vehicles at Ford China, will retire from the company on September 30.
Watters began his career with Ford in 1987 as part of the Ford of Britain finance team and has since held key roles in every region across the globe. His nearly four decades of service have driven significant business advancements, including expanding Ford’s brand appeal and enhancing customer experiences with desirable products and services for Chinese consumers. He also played a crucial role in restructuring Ford’s business in South America, guiding the company through an economically challenging period by reallocating capital and overhauling operations in the region.
“Lyle has had an incredible career spanning more than three and a half decades,” said Sam Wu, president of Ford China. “His contributions to Ford have been immense, and I am personally grateful for his support and wise counsel since I joined the company two years ago.”
In his most recent role, Watters oversaw Ford-branded vehicles in China, leading the Changan Ford joint venture, Jiangling Ford Technologies, and managing Ford China’s supply chain, manufacturing, new model launches, and quality control.
Prior to his work in China, Watters served as president of Ford South America & International Markets Group, where his leadership included roles as both president and chief financial officer.
Throughout his career, Watters held several leadership positions within Ford of Europe, including chief financial officer, director of business strategy, and treasurer. He was also a board member of Ford Otosan and Ford Sollers, and he held financial leadership roles within Ford’s Premier Automotive Group, which included Jaguar Land Rover, Aston Martin Lagonda, and Volvo Cars.
