---
title: "Alexandra Ford English Is the Ford Family’s First Woman to Join the Automaker’s Board"
description: "She’s the great-great-granddaughter of Henry Ford and part of the fifth generation to oversee the dynasty."
date: "2021-05-22"
modified: "2021-05-22"
authors:
  - name: "Kristin V. Shaw"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/kristin-shaw"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/40731/alexandra-ford-english-is-the-ford-familys-first-woman-to-join-the-automakers-board"
categories:
  - "Culture"
  - "Ford News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
tags:
  - "Ford"
---

# Alexandra Ford English Is the Ford Family’s First Woman to Join the Automaker’s Board

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2021/05/Alexandra-Ford-English-HERO-2.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

At 33, [Alexandra Ford English](<https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/people/alexandra-ford-english.html>) is the same age as her great-great-grandfather was when he met [Thomas Edison,](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/27996/hundreds-of-parents-named-their-babies-tesla-last-year-government-data-says>) setting into motion a series of events that helped to catapult [Ford](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/39499/henry-fords-great-grandson-is-selling-his-autographed-edsel-and-one-off-woody>) to the gigantic company it is today. Currently, the automaker employs about 87,000 people in the U.S. alone, and the company is worth billions of dollars. It’s a big job to oversee, and at least one [Ford](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/39499/henry-fords-great-grandson-is-selling-his-autographed-edsel-and-one-off-woody>) has served on the board of directors from the start. Until the most recent vote that cemented Ford English’s spot on the board, however, none of the women in the family have served in that position. [Ford Motors](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/38361/why-jay-leno-thinks-everyone-needs-to-drive-a-ford-model-t-before-they-die>) has had and continues to have a number of women on the board, but this is the first time a Ford woman has stepped in.

Clearly, Ford English has the pedigree and she has the brains and experience, too: she holds a bachelor’s degree from Stanford in Human Biology with a concentration in the Neurobiology and Physiology of Human Behavior, and a master’s degree in Business Administration from Harvard Business School. Ford English started working for the family business since 2017 after stints with fashion designer Tory Burch and retail conglomorate Gap Inc.

![message-editor%2F1621636918378-alexandrafordenglishinline.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1621636918378-alexandrafordenglishinline.jpg>)
**Ford**

Ford English joined Rivian’s board of directors about a year ago, which should give her some insight to where [Rivian](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/39291/rivian-is-not-messing-around-with-its-off-road-tests-of-the-r1t>) and Ford are headed, both hurtling headlong into the world of electric vehicles. While Rivian beat Ford to the punch for the release of its all-electric pickup truck, there’s no doubt that Ford is learning from Rivian and leveraging the upstart company’s creativity to leap forward. Ford English's experience with autonomous vehicles suggests to me that she's very future focused, which is something Ford will find valuable; especially in the next five years or so.

Her cousin Henry Ford III, the son of [Edsel B. Ford](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/39499/henry-fords-great-grandson-is-selling-his-autographed-edsel-and-one-off-woody>) II, also joined her on the board. He is currently the investor relations director and has been working for the company for 15 years.

“Henry and Alexandra are both passionate and capable young business leaders who care deeply about Ford Motor Company and the welfare of our customers, employees, dealers and shareholders,” Bill Ford (Alexandra Ford English's father) said in the automaker’s [recent press release](<https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2021/03/12/alexandra-ford-english-henry-ford-iii.html>). “I am pleased and proud that we have a new generation of Ford family leaders who believe in serving the company and ensuring it remains a successful and positive force in the world for years to come.”

This is a family that has plenty of stories to tell. It's going to be interesting to see what Ford English leads next.

*Got a tip? Send the writer a note: kristin.shaw@thedrive.com*

## Author
Kristin Shaw is the former Weekend Editor for The Drive and a current freelancer in both the automotive and aviation worlds. She’s a big fan of anything car-related and calls on her technology background on the corporate side to explain engineering and high-tech concepts. Now living in her sixth state (New Jersey, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Georgia, and now Texas), she is thrilled that working from home is now mainstream.

### Author social links  
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[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/KristinVShaw>)