Ford Strengthens European Leadership with Appointment of Maria Grazia Davino as Vice President of Sales

As Ford Motor Company accelerates its strategic transformation across the European market, the automaker is reinforcing its executive leadership team. Ford has officially announced the appointment of Maria Grazia Davino as the new Vice President, Sales, for Ford of Europe, effective October 1, 2026.

Based in Cologne, Germany, Davino will step into a pivotal role overseeing all commercial operations across Europe—including retail sales, distribution networks, and dealer relations. She will report directly to Jim Baumbick, President of Ford of Europe, bringing her extensive two-decade automotive background to the brand's ongoing regional evolution.

Strategic Leadership for Ford’s European Transformation

Davino’s appointment arrives at a critical juncture for Ford in Europe. The company is currently executing a dual-pronged regional strategy designed to secure long-term profitability and customer engagement:

• Strengthening Ford Pro: Cementing and expanding Ford’s established commercial vehicle leadership in Europe, offering specialized vans, digital services, and fleet management solutions.
• The Passenger Vehicle Product Offensive: Launching a wave of new passenger models, with five new vehicles slated to arrive in European showrooms by 2029, tailored specifically to meet the evolving demands of European drivers.

Jim Baumbick welcomed the high-profile appointment, emphasizing Davino's industry credentials:

"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."

A Proven Industry Veteran with Deep European Expertise

Maria Grazia Davino brings more than 20 years of high-level automotive industry experience to Ford, specializing in sales, marketing, and corporate business transformation. Her impressive resume includes leadership roles across some of the world's most prominent automotive brands:

• BYD Europe: Prior to joining Ford, Davino served as Regional Managing Director of BYD Europe. In this capacity, she spearheaded operations across a massive territory—including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and the Nordic countries—successfully expanding the brand's footprint in each market.
• Stellantis: Before her tenure at BYD, Davino spent over a decade in senior executive roles within Stellantis. Most notably, she served as Group Managing Director and CEO for Stellantis UK, where she successfully navigated a complex multi-brand portfolio and led the business through its critical transition toward electric vehicles (EVs). Earlier at Stellantis, she held key responsibilities managing European Sales and Marketing and overseeing operations in Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and the UK.
• Automobili Lamborghini: Davino officially began her illustrious career in the automotive sector in 2003 with Lamborghini Automotive.

Looking Ahead: The Road to 2029

With extensive experience managing large-scale commercial operations, electric vehicle transitions, and multi-market retail networks, Davino is exceptionally well-positioned to steer Ford’s European sales division through its next chapter. As dealers and customers prepare for Ford's upcoming passenger and commercial vehicle rollouts, her leadership will be instrumental in driving market share and deepening customer loyalty across the region.