Ford has appointed former Stellantis UK chief executive Maria Grazia Davino as its new vice president of sales for Europe.
Davino, who previously led Stellantis UK through the early years of its transition to electric vehicles before moving to BYD Europe, will take up the role on 1 October. She will report directly to Ford of Europe president Jim Baumbick.
The appointment is particularly significant for Ford Pro, Europe’s market-leading commercial vehicle business. As head of European sales, Davino will oversee all commercial operations, including retail sales, dealer networks and distribution, as Ford looks to strengthen its position in the van market while expanding its passenger car line-up.
Ford says its European strategy centres on growing Ford Pro while launching five new passenger vehicle models by 2029.
Davino brings more than 20 years of automotive experience to the role. Before joining Ford, she was regional managing director at BYD Europe, overseeing operations across Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and the Nordic countries.
However, she is perhaps best known in the UK from her time at Stellantis, where she served as Group Managing Director and CEO of Stellantis UK.
During her tenure she oversaw the company’s portfolio of brands, including Vauxhall, Peugeot, Citroën and Fiat Professional, while managing the business through an increasingly rapid shift towards electrification.
Earlier in her Stellantis career, she held a series of senior European sales and marketing roles, leading operations in Switzerland, Austria, Germany and the UK. She began her automotive career with Lamborghini in 2003.
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Jim Baumbick, president of Ford of Europe, said: “Maria Grazia is a highly accomplished leader with deep expertise across the European automotive landscape. Her track record of building high-performing teams and building strong customer and dealer relationships will be invaluable as we continue to grow our business in Europe.”
Davino will be based at Ford’s European headquarters in Cologne.
