Ford Executive Doug Field to Depart Next Month, Alan Clarke Named Successor

# Ford Executive Doug Field to Depart Next Month, Alan Clarke Named Successor Doug Field is leaving Ford Motor Company, the company announced. He is stepping down from his role next month. Alan Clarke will replace Field as vice president of advanced development projects.

Field returned to Ford in 2021 after previously working as an executive at Tesla and at Apple. He left Apple five years ago and headed Apple's secretive car project. At Tesla, Field served as chief engineer overseeing the Model 3's design.

At Ford, Field led development of new electric models and software. During his tenure, Ford rolled out the BlueCruise hands-free driver-assist system. Ford also introduced the Ford Digital Experience, an Android-powered infotainment system, and launched its skunkworks project to design its next-generation EV.

Leadership Transition and Field's Rationale Field stated he has not decided on his next role.

He said it was an opportune time to leave Ford before the UEV platform goes into production because the product has reached maturity and he can pass the baton to Ford's industrial and manufacturing team. Field said he came to Ford to partner with people who know how to industrialize at massive scale, and the transition point is opportune because he is dependent on Ford experts to bring the product to a factory like Kentucky, run it at high volume, build it with high quality, and keep it affordable.

Alan Clarke previously worked as an engineer at Tesla.

He currently leads Ford's California-based skunkworks lab.

Ford's EV Strategy and Recent Changes Ford scrapped its high-cost next-generation electrical architecture known as FNV4.

The scrapping of FNV4 contributed to a $5 billion loss on EVs and software in 2024. X, to the full range of the lineup rather than build a new platform with limited application. In 2022, Ford divided its business into two entities: Model e focused on electric vehicles and Ford Blue focused on gas-powered trucks and SUVs.

Future Portfolio Plans Ford plans to refresh 80 percent of its North American vehicle portfolio by 2029, Ford Chief Executive Jim Farley said.

The company plans to refresh 70 percent of its global vehicle portfolio by 2029. By the end of the decade, 90 percent of Ford’s vehicles will feature entirely new electric architectures, including zonal and partially zonal systems.