Joe Hinrichs, Executive Vice President and President of The Americas at Ford Motor Company speaks to us live from the 2016 Detroit Auto Show!

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Joe Hinrichs is executive vice president and president, The Americas, Ford Motor Company, effective Dec. 1, 2012.

Prior to this role, Hinrichs served as group vice president and president of Asia Pacific and Africa beginning in December 2009. Hinrichs led Ford’s Asia Pacific growth plan overseeing the construction of nine new manufacturing plants and spearheading a commitment to bring more than 50 new vehicles and powertrains to the region by mid-decade. He oversaw all of Ford’s operations and partnerships within the Asia Pacific and Africa region, including those with Changan, JMC, and Mazda. Hinrichs was also Chairman and CEO of Ford China from November 2010 to December 2011.

Previously, Hinrichs served as group vice president, Global Manufacturing and Labor Affairs, Ford Motor Company, responsible for the operations of 105 assembly, stamping and powertrain plants worldwide, and overseeing the company’s global engineering support for stamping, vehicle and powertrain manufacturing.

Hinrichs also had global responsibility for the company’s Material Planning and Logistics, Ford Production System, Manufacturing Business Office and Labor Affairs organizations, as well as Automotive Components Holdings, the Ford-managed temporary business entity comprised of former Visteon Corp. plants and facilities in the United States and Mexico.

From September 2006 to December 2007, Hinrichs was vice president, North America Manufacturing. From October 2005 to September 2006, he was vice president of Vehicle Operations, responsible for 19 assembly plants and eight stamping and tool and die plants in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Prior to that, Hinrichs served as president and CEO of Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited. There, he led Ford of Canada’s operations, including the national headquarters, six regional sales offices, five vehicle assembly and engine manufacturing plants, two parts distribution centers, and affiliates including Ford Credit, Jaguar, Volvo, Land Rover and Hertz.

Before moving to Canada, Hinrichs was director of manufacturing, Vehicle Operations, responsible for the manufacturing, quality, and launch of several Ford sport utility vehicles and trucks produced at six assembly plants.

Hinrichs was executive director of the company’s Material Planning and Logistics organization, from April 2002 to July 2003. In this capacity, he was responsible for material planning, production control, scheduling, inventory management, logistics and total material flow at all Ford’s manufacturing facilities worldwide.

Hinrichs joined Ford in December 2000 as plant manager of the Van Dyke Transmission Plant in Sterling Heights, Michigan.

Prior to joining Ford, he was a partner and senior vice president of Ryan Enterprises Group, a manufacturing investment group in Chicago. Early in his career, Hinrichs spent 10 years at General Motors in various positions in engineering and manufacturing, including plant manager.

Hinrichs was named the 2013 Fortune Magazine Reader’s Choice winner as Businessperson of the Year for the automotive industry. Hinrichs was also named one of the 10 inaugural winners of the Shanghai Pudong Business Person of the Year award in 2013 in recognition of his leadership in growing Ford’s business in China. He was the recipient of the 2008 Shien-Ming Wu Manufacturing Leadership Award, which recognizes manufacturing leaders for their visionary and strategic thinking, courage and impact on the manufacturing industry. Hinrichs was also named to Automotive News’ 2007 All-Stars for Manufacturing. He was recognized for leading Ford’s North American manufacturing team to help boost vehicle quality and improve plant productivity.

Hinrichs was a member of the Board of the Directors of the US-China Business Council from 2010 through 2013.

Hinrichs was co-chairman of the 2006 – 2009 Michigan March of Dimes WalkAmerica campaigns, co-chair of Ford’s 2008 and 2009 Juvenile Diabetes campaign, and operating chairman of the Boy Scouts of America’s 2007 – 2009 Friends of Scouting Leadership campaigns. Hinrichs was the 2013 Arthritis Foundation’s Tribute to Excellence honoree celebrating his leadership in the community.

Born in Columbus, Ohio, in December 1966, Hinrichs earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering magna cum laude from the University of Dayton (Ohio) in 1989, and a master’s degree in business administration from the Harvard Business School in 1994 as a GM Fellow. Hinrichs and his wife, Maria, have three children.