Ford Motor Co. appointed Alicia Boler Davis president of its commercial business unit Ford Pro effective Oct. 1, the company announced in a press release.
Davis, who most recently was CEO of online pharmacy firm Alto Pharmacy, also served executive roles with Amazon and spent 25 years at General Motors.
Jim Farley, president and CEO of Ford, in a July 30 statement said Davis’ skill set and experiences make her the right fit to lead Ford Pro.
“She combines deep automotive and technology knowledge with an entrepreneurial and customer-obsessed mindset,” Farley said. “Importantly, she builds high-performance teams and fosters a culture of innovation, speed and smart risk-taking.”
Davis’ background includes more than three decades in automotive, technology, and customer experience. She is credited for leading Alto to grow revenues to more than $1 billion before its acquisition in March, per the release. While serving as SVP at Amazon, she guided its global fulfillment network through the COVID-19 pandemic, driving advancements in robotics and technology that kept goods moving globally.
In her time with GM, Davis worked as a manufacturing engineer and rose through leadership roles in manufacturing, quality and connected customer experience. Davis’ last role at GM was as EVP of global manufacturing and labor relations, where she oversaw 22 vehicle launches and managed 150 facilities in 20 countries.
Davis, a Detroit native whose father and grandfather previously worked for Ford, said her various career experiences led her to her new role.
“If I had to create a role in the auto industry that would best utilize my experiences in both automotive and technology, it would be leading Ford Pro at this pivotal time,” she said.
Ford Pro, which operates in North America and Europe, primarily includes the sale of Ford and Lincoln vehicles, parts and accessories for commercial, government, and rental customers, per its latest annual report.
Davis takes over for Andrew Frick, who has served as interim leader of Ford Pro since last fall and will continue to lead Ford Blue and Ford Model e.
