Joseph Bakaj
Title: Vice President, Powertrain Engineering
Joseph Bakaj is Ford Motor Company’s vice president, Powertrain Engineering. This appointment is effective Jan. 1, 2011. In this role, he oversees all engine and transmission engineering worldwide.
In April, 2008, Bakaj was appointed vice president, Global Product Programs, Ford Motor Company and vice president, Product Development, Ford of Europe. Bakaj was previously vice president, Product Development, Ford of Europe, a position he held since Sept. 1, 2005. Also, he was a member of Ford of Europe’s Executive Operating Committee.
Before rejoining Ford of Europe in 2005, he was senior managing executive officer in charge of Design, Product Planning, Research and Development for Mazda Motor Corporation and responsible for the worldwide development of all Mazda products.
Bakaj has more than 20 years of product development experience at Ford Motor Company, working in Britain, Germany, Japan and the United States. His past experiences include powertrain engineering and extensive noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) and chassis work. Notably, he was Vehicle Engineering manager for the 2000 Ford Mondeo, and was named Engineer of the Year in 2000 by U.K.-based Autocar magazine for his efforts on that vehicle project.
Immediately prior to his position at Mazda, he worked at Ford in Dearborn as vehicle engineering director for North American Truck product development. Upon his return to Ford of Europe in 2005, Bakaj managed the development and launch of all of the company’s new products, including the 2006 Ford Galaxy and acclaimed S-MAX model, which was voted “Car of the Year 2007” in Europe, and the latest generation Ford Mondeo, new Ford Kuga crossover and all-new global Ford Fiesta small car.
Bakaj received a degree in mechanical engineering from City University in London before joining Ford of Britain in 1985. He is married with one child and is fluent in both German and English.
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Oct. 21, 2010