From young genius to global manager at Ford

A versatile engineer and businessman, Gregory S. Christensen has worn many hats and proved an influential global player over his more than two decades with Ford Motor Company.

Christensen earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering at Brigham Young University, where he served as captain of the soccer team. Immediately following his graduation in 1995, he was hired by Ford as a manufacturing engineer. But a full workload apparently didn’t satisfy Christensen: he completed two masters degrees, including one while working full time. First, he earned a masters in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan, and then received a Ford Educational Fellowship to pursue a Master of Business Administration in International Business at Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School of Business.

In 2007, Ford decided to harness Christensen’s talent more fully, and relocated him to Köln, Germany to serve as Manufacturing Engineering Supervisor on the third generation Ford Focus. For the next four years, he oversaw for the development and launch of the global Ford Focus program, which included tooling, facilities, processing, feasibility and quality.

In 2011, Ford brought Christensen back to Michigan, where he would lead manufacturing engineering planning for future vehicle implementation. But three years after that, he once again summoned his knowledge of international auto manufacturing when he was tasked with managing vehicle, engine, transmission and stamping capacity planning for all global production. This included North and South America, the EU, the Middle East & Africa, and Asia Pacific. Christensen still holds the position of Global Capacity Planning & Operations Manager, and lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with his wife and children.