Lisa Brankin replaces Andy Barratt as Ford MD

Lisa Brankin has been appointed the new managing director of Ford of Britain, replacing Andy Barratt.

The former director for passenger vehicles stepped up as interim managing director in early October, when Barratt announced he was taking a leave of absence from the blue oval.

UPDATE 13/11/2020: Barratt has since announced that he has taken the position of managing director at Lexus in the United Arab Emirates, part of the Al Futtaim organisation.

In her new post, Brankin will report to Jon Williams, vice president, Sales, Ford of Europe. She will be responsible for all of Ford’s marketing, sales and service activities in the United Kingdom and Ireland

“Lisa has shown great leadership over many years in her senior roles in the Ford of Britain team and is the right person to take the business forward in our largest market in Europe,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service and general manager, Passenger Vehicles, Ford of Europe. “At the same time, we thank Andy for his many years of service and contributions to Ford.”

She takes up the new role as Ford plans to boost its electrification strategy with the launch of the Mustang Mach-E electric SUV. 

Prior to her new position, Brankin was director, Passenger Vehicles, Ford of Britain and Ireland, having previously been director, Sales, Ford of Britain, from January 2019 and director, Marketing, Ford of Britain from August 2015.

Brankin’s other roles in the Ford of Britain leadership team have included being director, Dealer Operations, where she was responsible for all sales support and dealer representation activities, including the implementation of Transit Specialist Dealer Centres and rolling out the FordStore initiative, a network of upgraded, new-look dealerships where customers experience the full range of Ford vehicles and services.

Brankin joined Ford in September 1990 as a graduate trainee and has held various roles within Ford’s sales and marketing and communications functions.

Her replacement as director, Passenger Vehicles, is Anthony Ireson, the current director, Ford Customer Service Division, Ford of Britain and Ireland, and who had previously been director, Marketing, Ford of Europe. Ireson’s replacement as FCSD director is Sarah Brettle, who is presently manager, Field Operations, Ford Customer Service Division, Ford of Britain and Ireland.