Ford Builds on Apple Hire With New Digital and Information Chief

Just a week after Ford announced the titanic news that it had poached the leader of Apple’s secretive car project to lead its advanced tech efforts, the Detroit-based automotive titan has revealed it has a new Chief Digital and Information Officer, Mike Amend.

Effective immediately, Amend replaces Sakis Kitsopanidis, who had held the CIO role on an interim basis since early 2021.

Amend’s role at the company will center around the use of data, software and technology to drive growth as part of the Ford+ strategy. As part of Ford’s team, Amend will lead Ford’s Technology and Software Platform, including its Enterprise Information Technology, Global Data Insight and Analytics, and Ford Business Solutions functions.

Ford+ is the future of the eponymous automaker and promises to deliver always-on solutions for customers, like over-the-air updates that allow customers to upgrade their car’s operating system and functionality without making the trip to a dealership.

Amend joins the iconic automaker from Lowe’s, where he nearly tripled e-commerce sales as the home improvement store’s President of Online. Before that, he spent half a year as the COO of CommerceHub and held e-commerce leadership positions at JCPenney, The Home Depot, and Sprint. He also served as the CTO of Dell's Global Online business unit and as the Deputy CTO of BEA Systems.

“Mike adds dimension to our team as we use technology and software to transform our company and transportation from the inside-out,” Ford CEO Jim Farley said in the company's announcement. “Ford has always been an innovator in vehicles; now we’re taking our digital capabilities to new levels to further differentiate ourselves with customers and from competitors.”

His new role means he will work in conjunction with Chief Product Platform and Operations Officer Hau Thai-Tang and Chief Advanced Technology and Embedded Systems Officer Doug Field. The work they do together will help shape Ford’s future as it moves away from a traditional vehicle sales model, in which it typically only made money from the initial sale of a vehicle. With its always-on tech, Ford can make digital sales (like access to new features and apps) straight to customers after they’ve paid for their car and even gain access to driving data that it could license to partners for a fee.