FordDirect, a joint venture between Ford Motor Company and its franchise dealers, announced Dean Stoneley would become the company’s new CEO and a member of the board of managers. He succeeds Matt VanDyke, who has resigned to pursue external interests.
In his new role, Stoneley would lead the team responsible for bringing together the worlds of digital, data, and technology to deliver marketing and advertising products to Ford and Lincoln dealers.
Stoneley was most recently general manager, North America Truck at Ford. During his tenure, F-Series remained the best-selling truck in America for the 45th consecutive year. Stoneley also launched the Maverick, a truck reviving a 1970s car nameplate.
Previously, Stoneley was president and CEO of the Ford Motor Company of Canada, where Ford is top brand. During his tenure, Stoneley worked closely with the Canadian government and the Unifor union to secure the Oakville Assembly Complex as a BEV manufacturing site for the company.
Stoneley’s background with Ford has been predominantly in marketing where he has held key roles in the US, Canada, Southern Africa, and Asia-Pacific. While based in China, Stoneley was vice president and director of marketing for a new joint venture with ChangAn Ford, responsible for marketing, sales, and service of Ford vehicles in China.