Automotive manufacturing
10 Ford partnerships leaders
These ten current and former Ford partnerships leaders have held vice president, executive director, director and head-of roles in strategic partnerships, alliances, joint ventures and business development at Ford Motor Company. A reader can learn how partnerships leaders work at Ford from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
01—10David Snyder
LinkedInExperience: Executive Director -- International Business Development · Ford Motor Company
Former Executive Director -- International Business Development at Ford Motor Company, in a Ford career listed from 1976 to 2008. The profile headline describes international business development experience across Asia Pacific operations and global business relationships.
John Lippe
LinkedInExperience: Director of Business Development · Ford Motor Company
Former Director of Business Development at Ford Motor Company (2022–2023), a London-based role the profile describes as Director Business Development and Stakeholder Engagement for Ford Drive Europe. Other roles shown are Director, City Engagement at Ford Mobility (2018–2022), Manager, UK Governmental Affairs at Ford Motor Company (2004–2018) and Transformation Manager at Ford Motor Company (2024–2025).
John Robinson
LinkedInExperience: Director - Global Business Associations/ Product Alliances Mgmt · Ford Motor Company
Former Director - Global Business Associations/ Product Alliances Mgmt at Ford Motor Company (2017–2026), and Ford Energy Director - Business Alliances since 2026. Earlier Ford Motor Company roles shown are Manager - Global Electrification Strategy (2015–2017), Global Automatic Transmission Planning Mgr (2013–2015) and Powertrain Strategy and Planning Manager (2011–2013).
Julia Hawley
LinkedInExperience: Director of Business Development FCSD · Ford Motor Company
Director of Business Development FCSD at Ford Motor Company since 2026. The profile also lists a current Associate Director, Global Strategy role. Earlier roles shown are Associate Director of Partnerships at Michigan Central (2023–2024) and Board Member - Internal Chair at Women in Mobility (2021–2022).
Leon Liu
LinkedInExperience: Director - Business Development · Ford Motor Company
Former Director - Business Development at Ford Motor Company (2019–2024), and Executive Director there since 2023; the profile headline reads Executive Director - Strategy & Business Development, Ford China. Other roles shown are VP - Business Development & Strategy, BEV Business at Ford China (2020–2024) and Senior Manager - Business Strategy at Ford Motor Company (2016–2017).
Michele Lombardi
LinkedInExperience: VP & Global Head of Corporate Development and Strategic Partnerships · Ford Motor Company
VP & Global Head of Corporate Development and Strategic Partnerships at Ford Motor Company since 2026. Earlier roles shown are Chief Strategy & Corporate Development Officer at KrateoSky (2025–2026), Founder & Head of CNH Ventures (2022–2025), and Senior Vice President, Corporate Development (2019–2025) and CEO, CNH Industrial Australia & New Zealand (2017–2019) at CNH.
P. Li
LinkedInExperience: China Business Development Director · Ford Motor Company
Former China Business Development Director at Ford Motor Company (2010–2015). Ford China Commercial Vehicle Deputy General Manager since 2022; other Ford Motor Company roles shown are China Autonomous Vehicle Director And China Commercial Vehicle Strategy & BD Director (since 2019) and China JV Strategy and Association Director (since 2016).
Ryan Lawson, Esq.
LinkedInExperience: Director and Counsel, Joint Ventures, Alliances, and Partnerships · Ford Motor Company
Director and Counsel, Joint Ventures, Alliances, and Partnerships at Ford Motor Company since 2023, drafting and negotiating joint venture, alliance and partnership agreements and managing a global team for integration, deal execution and ongoing relationship management, per the profile. Also Director and Counsel, Mergers, Acquisitions, and Divestitures at Ford Next, LLC since 2018; earlier Managing Counsel, Global Privacy, Technology, and Mobility Law at Ford (2011–2018).
Soraya Kim Larkin
LinkedInExperience: CTO Chief of Staff & Director of Strategic Partnerships and Operations · Ford Motor Company
Former CTO Chief of Staff & Director of Strategic Partnerships and Operations at Ford Motor Company (2019–2023), leading the Office of Strategic Partnerships and Operations across sites including Dearborn, Palo Alto, Aachen and Tel Aviv, per the profile. Later Division President at H2 Power Co. (2023–2024) and Chief of Strategic Partnerships at the U.S. Department of Energy (2024–2025).
William May
LinkedInExperience: Head of Partnerships (Europe) · Ford Motor Company
Head of Partnerships (Europe) at Ford Motor Company since 2022, a director-level role per the profile. Earlier Ford Motor Company roles shown are Head of Marketing (Motorsport) (2014–2022), Marketing Manager (2013–2014) and Partnership Marketing Manager (2008–2009), and Marketing Manager at Ford World Rally Team (2009–2012).
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's partnership area and region to your question, since the titles on this page cover different partner types and markets. Check each person's dates to see whether they still hold the role.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How does a large automaker decide whether to pursue a joint venture, an alliance or a commercial partnership?
- 02What does a partner need to bring before an automaker of Ford's size commits to a strategic partnership?
- 03How are partnership, alliance and business development teams organized across regions at a global vehicle manufacturer?
Reaching Ford partnerships leaders
How can I contact one of these Ford partnerships leaders?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 1 company: Ford Motor Company, based on profile data retrieved on October 9, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach Ford partnerships leaders?
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Yes. An agent with a USDC wallet on Base can ask one question without an Instant Expert account. It names the person, for example by the LinkedIn URL on this page, and pays per ask over x402 (HTTP 402). The person answers in writing or by voice note, and if nobody answers within 7 days, the payment goes back to the wallet automatically. x402 docs
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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