BS People: Joginder Singh

Joginder Singh set to take charge as Ford India MD

After 27 years at Ford Motor Company, Michael Boneham, president and managing director of Ford India, is set to hang up his boots this December. He will be succeeded by Joginder Singh, who now heads the Business Services Centre of Ford Motor Company.

A veteran at Ford, Singh will take over Boneham's responsibilities of managing and growing the integrated manufacturing operation of the company. In his new role, Singh will lead the charge of product programmes and oversee the implementation of Ford’s expansion plans in India. The company plans to bring out eight new products by 2015 and has plants coming up in Chennai and Gujarat.

Singh’s appointment comes at a time when the company has been facing increasing pressure to grow sales in the Indian market. In the first six months of the current financial year, Ford India’s sales have skid 6.15 per cent to 41,364 units.

“Joginder’s proven leadership will be critical to driving the successful and ongoing expansion of our India operation. His wealth of experience and understanding of the Ford brand globally and local market expertise will be invaluable in helping Ford to continue its growth momentum. With 60-70 per cent of the growth expected to come from Asia-Pacific and Africa (APA) for Ford Motor Company, India will be play a critical role in driving that growth,” says Joe Hinrichs, Ford group vice-president and president, APA.

Singh, who joined Ford Motor Company in 1980 in its finance function in Europe, has served in finance, treasury, strategy, and general management roles. He has worked in Europe, United States and Canada.

As the president & managing director, Ford Business Services Center (Ford Motor Company), responsible for Ford’s Global Business Services operations headquartered in Chennai, Singh has accomplished major structural cost efficiencies, expanded the business services portfolio and launched new sites across Coimbatore and Delhi.