Movers and Shakers: Automotive Industry

by Sima Matthes

According to a 2007 report, women make up fewer than 5% of the total number of CEOs in the automotive industry. However, the recent appointment of Kim Harris Jones to the position of senior vice president, corporate controller and auditor at Chrysler LLC, may be a sign that the industry on the road to change.

Ms. Harris Jones is the first African-American female to be named senior vice president in the company’s history. Ms. Harris Jones, who joined the company in 1992, previously held the positions of vice president and chief controller, as well as president of product & procurement cost management finance. She was recently named to the list of “25 Women to Watch” by CFO Magazine. In February 2007, she received the ‘Women of Excellence’ Award for distinguished success in her profession and contributions to the community. In 2006, she was named the “African American Executive of the Year” by On Wheels, Inc. and in 2005 was named to the Automotive News list of “100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry.”

The following five women are also setting the pace in the race to the top of this industry:

(1) Anne Belec – President and CEO – Volvo Cars of North America Inc.
When Ms. Belec became CEO in April 2005, she was the first female CEO of a United States auto manufacturer. Ms. Belec joined Volvo following her 19-year tenure at Ford Motor Company, where she began as a clerk, processing orders at a dealership. She holds Bachelor degrees in Commerce and Business Administration from the University of Ottawa and an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.

(2) Adriane Brown – President and CEO – Honeywell Transportation Systems
One of Fortune’s 50 most powerful women in 2006 (and one of four Rising Stars at that time), Ms. Brown leads a $4.5 billion division responsible for the manufacture of oil filters, antifreeze and equipment such as turbochargers. Ms. Brown’s experience includes a 19-year stint at Corning in automotive materials before joining Honeywell’s aerospace division before returning to automotive.

(3) Dian Ogilvie – Senior Vice President and Secretary – Toyota Motor North America
Ms.Ogilvie has been with Toyota for 23 years, and has served successively in increasingly responsible positions. Prior to becoming Senior Vice President and Secretary, Ms. Ogilvie was senior vice president, general counsel and chief environmental officer for Toyota Motor Services (TMS), and was also group vice president and assistant general counsel. She holds degrees from the University of California at Riverside, the University of Arizona, and UCLA.

(4) Jan Bertsch – Vice President and Chief Information Officer (CIO) – Chrysler LLC
Since 2007, when Ms. Bertsch was named Vice President and Chief Information Officer (CIO), she has been responsible for worldwide IT services for the company. She previously served in this position for Chrysler Group and Mercedes Benz. Following a 22 year stint at Ford and Visteon, Ms. Bertsch joined DaimlerChrysler in 2001 as VP of finance for Chrysler Group’s global sales. Ms. Bertsch is an active mentor with Chrysler’s Women’s Forum and Asian-American Network, and was named one of the “100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry” by Automotive News in 2005.

(5) Maureen Kempston-Darkes – Group Vice President and President of GM’s Latin America, Middle East and Africa regions
A 32-year veteran of General Motors, Ms. Kempston-Darkes is responsible for developing markets, which includes marketing vehicles in areas where women aren’t even allowed to drive. She was ranked the 6th most powerful woman in international business by Forbes Magazine in 2003. A leader in the industry, she is also the founder of GM’s Women’s Council and Affinity Groups, as well as the women’s initiative programs, all of which help women advance in the automotive industry. She was recognized for this work in 1997, when she received a Professional Achievement Award from the Women’s Automotive Association International, and was a 2005 recipient of the Automotive News 100 Leading Women of the Automotive Industry.

Also notable for leading the pack:

CEO Wang Fengying of Great Wall Motor Co Ltd, Great Wall Motor Co. is a large vehicle manufacturer an exporter based in China. Ms. Wang was one of the company’s first employees in 1991, and became CEO in 2002. She has led the company with great financial results: Great Wall Motor Co. became the first auto company in China to be listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Additionally, according to Gasgoo.com, Chrysler announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Great Wall, looking into long-term business cooperation between the two companies.