James Baumbick

Jim Baumbick was named vice president, Product Development Operations, Cycle Planning and Internal Combustion Engine Programs for Ford Blue, in September 2022. He reports to Kumar Galhotra, president, Ford Blue.

In this role, Baumbick oversees development of all Ford Blue internal combustion engine, or ICE, products. He also leads cycle planning, vehicle development engineering and product development operations for all of Ford, partnering closely with Doug Field, chief advanced product development and technology officer, on the broader development of Ford vehicles.

Previously at Ford, Baumbick was vice president, Industrial Platform, Operations and New Model Launch, Ford Blue, and, before that, vice president, Enterprise Product Line Management. In the latter, he was responsible for global product strategy and planning as well as leading the global product line teams. Baumbick also formerly served as executive director of Global Product Planning and Strategy, where he led the development of the company’s flexible modular architecture approach and new capital allocation and cycle planning processes to prioritize winning businesses to support the company’s overall fitness efforts.

Baumbick joined Ford in 1993 as a Ford College Graduate. Since then, he has served in a variety of roles core to the product development process, including financial and profit analysis, engineering, product planning and program management, as well as operations.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a master’s degree in Business Administration from Michigan State University, and a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan.

Baumbick’s leadership was recognized early in his career when he was named a recipient of the Automotive Hall of Fame’s Young Leadership and Excellence Award in 2003. The award, given since the 1980s, recognizes up-and-coming automotive professionals who demonstrate exceptional leadership qualities in their work. In 2021, he was again honored by the Automotive Hall of Fame with an Industry Influencer Award, recognizing individuals who are influencing and leading through their actions, innovations, and visible positions on issues pertinent to the automotive industry and its future.

Baumbick holds a bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan State University as well as a masters degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Michigan State University.