Ford China announces appointment of new managing director, COO

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Sam Wu, who served as top operating executive in Asia for several major global companies across multiple industries, is joining Ford Motor (China) Ltd. ("Ford China") on October 1 to the assume the role of managing director and chief operating officer, according to a press release Ford China issued today.

In his new capacity, Mr. Wu will be responsible for such businesses as engineering, manufacturing, quality, and procurement, as well as direcing Ford Motor's China commercial vehicle business unit. Based in Shanghai, he will report to Anning Chen, Ford China President and CEO.

"China is the world's largest and a strategically important auto market, and our ambitions for the country have never been higher," said Chen. "Manufacturing effectiveness and efficiency, including the quality that customers expect and deserve, are critical to success of the Ford+ plan in China, and Sam is bringing proven capability and resolve in those areas to our team."

Sam Wu; photo credit: Ford China

Immediately before the participation in Ford China, Sam Wu served as president, Asia Pacific, and a member of the global executive committee for appliance maker Whirlpool Corp. Earlier, he was on such executive positions as president and CEO of Osram's Asia-Pacific business and vice president and regional general manager for Honeywell Process Solutions in Greater China. Notably, his career also includes a span with General Electric.

Ford Motor has started the operation of FMeT (Ford Electric Mach Technologies), its subsidiary focusing on the R&D and operation of intelligent electric vehicles (EVs) in China, marking a new milestone in Ford China's boost on its electrification strategy, the U.S. automaker announced earlier this week via its WeChat account.

FMeT will endeavor to develop the technologies about automobile electrification and intelligence, building a comprehensive R&D system based on the electrification center, the digital experience center, and the ADAS center.