Does any of the Ford families still work for Ford?
Today, no Ford family member runs Ford Motor Company day-to-day, but the family remains influential through ownership and board representation.
To understand the question in depth, this article examines how the Ford family continues to shape governance, what roles they hold, and how that involvement fits into Ford Motor Company's current leadership and strategic direction.
Ownership and control structure
The Ford family retains control of Ford Motor Company through a dual-class share arrangement that assigns disproportionate voting power to certain shares. This setup allows the family to influence major governance decisions, including board appointments and strategic direction, even if their economic stake is relatively smaller in market terms.
Before you read the following list, note that the listed points describe the general framework and how it functions, not a snapshot of every shareholding detail at any given moment.
- Dual-class stock: Class B shares carry significantly higher voting rights than the publicly traded Class A shares.
- Family ownership: The Ford family and related foundations hold a substantial block of Class B shares, enabling durable influence over board elections and major strategic choices.
- Economic stake: The family’s voting power is outsized relative to its economic stake, meaning they can shape outcomes even if their direct financial stake is modest.
Concluding this section, the arrangement has provided continuity in governance and a long-term outlook, while Ford relies on professional management for daily operations.
Current leadership and board representation
On the executive side, Ford Motor Company is led by non-family professionals, with a separation between board governance and day-to-day management. The chairmanship, however, has been held by a family member, reflecting the ongoing influence of the Ford lineage in governance.
- CEO: Jim Farley, who has led the company since 2020, oversees daily operations and strategic execution.
- Chairman: William Clay Ford Jr., a great-grandson of Henry Ford, serves as chairman and represents family interests on the board.
- Board presence of family members: The Ford family has historically placed relatives on Ford’s board. Names that have appeared on the board in recent years include Henry Ford III and Edsel B. Ford II, though exact board membership evolves with elections and filings.
In summary, the Ford family continues to influence governance through board representation and voting-control structures, but the company is run by non-family executives and a professional management team. The precise roster of family directors changes over time and is reflected in Ford’s annual report and proxy statements.
Context and implications
The enduring family involvement is often cited as a stabilizing long-term factor, shaping decisions around capital allocation, electrification strategy, and manufacturing footprint. Critics argue that concentrated family control can affect independent oversight, while supporters point to continuity and a long-term strategic mindset that aligns with the company’s heritage.
What this means for employees and customers
For employees, governance driven by long-term horizons can translate into a focus on sustained investment, training, and product development rather than short-term volatility. For customers, the brand’s continuity and ongoing investment in electrification and software-driven mobility reflect the governance model’s long-run orientation.
Conclusion and outlook
As of 2025, Ford Motor Company remains under the influence of the Ford family through dual-class voting shares and ongoing board representation, while day-to-day operations are led by professional executives. This arrangement aims to blend long-term family stewardship with experienced management as Ford pursues its electrification and software-focused strategy.
Summary
The Ford family does not occupy the CEO role, but they maintain governance influence via voting-control structures and board seats. Their ongoing involvement helps shape strategic directions and capital decisions, even as Ford advances its plans for electrification, autonomous technology, and global manufacturing reach.
