Ford Motor Company notified its employees Tuesday that Matt VanDyke, an executive at the automaker for 14 years, leaves this week to become president of a digital company with clients in Europe and throughout North America.
VanDyke, 49, told his team that his last day at Ford would be Friday.
He departs as CEO of FordDirect after being named to the position in January 2021. In that role, he has been a key liaison between Ford and its franchise dealers.
To the previous poster, you answered your own question. Anyone that is delivering and that people like working for is counter to the current Ford culture. Current culture is inept leadership that then berates those below them. There is no room for a VanDyke at Ford today. If you do not think you are smarter than everyone that works for you then you are not executive material at Ford.
Matt Van Dy-e is well respected, delivered results and I heard his team really enjoyed working for him. But why in the he-l would he go to Shift? Anyone from marketing want to weigh in? Unless he sees a tidal wave of cutbacks about to hit.....
The leadership exodus always happens before layoffs. The politically astute realize when their number is up and exit pre-layoff. In addition others realize what a s—-show it will be post layoff and choose not to participate. Some don’t realize they have been knifed from below, above and the side until they are told to announce their retirement.
CarCar is observed hoarding credit and spraying blame. There needs to be people to blame for the problems. Likely Kumar is one of the scapegoats.
I worked pretty closely with Matt and in my 22 years at Ford he is easily one of the brightest leaders I encountered. Recruiting Matt from Toyota's LA based marketing firm was one of the best moves Farley made. He will be missed.
Look at how many have left over the last 2-3 years. Some of the skills teams are going through leaders at the top every few years. How many CEO's have we had since Mullaly left for starters???
There is much more to this than we will know. Van Dy-e started around the same time as Farley, and they worked closely in Marketing so he knows Farley very well. This is a huge display of “no confidence” in Farley’s ability to do what he says he is going to do.
Maybe they will back fill him with 5 additional VPs to take up the slack...
Are the rats starting to leave the sinking ship?
@OP. I saw the news in another website and I am not surprised. Farley recently said he wants to get rid of the dealership experience and sell the EVs online. Not long before, Farley threatened dealerships doing "unreasonable" mark ups with "consequences". I doubt anybody would like to be the liaison during the "war" between Farley and Ford dealers.
Who cares.
Lol transformation to digital company? Poster he is leaving because that concept is gibberish and everybody knows it. Ford is having trouble with the basics design, tool, and lunch. What makes you think there’s any profit in the make-believe world of digital?
I suspect he wasn't pleased with Ford's disappointing pace at transforming to a majority data company. Shift Digital will certainly fit his goals better. I wish him luck in his new endeavor.
Note to Ford leadership: You need to accelerate the transformation to a digital company or more exits like this will happen.
@lpb+1hlc99Ur Well, he is one of the 102 Executives with his photo on the Our Leadership public page, and it is announced today that his last day is three days from now. That’s not a good sign.
A single person leaving is an exodus? Lol