• by Tanya Gazdik , Yesterday

Lisa Materazzo, Ford Motor Co. global chief marketing officer, is leaving the automaker, effective June 1. 

Dean Stoneley, global product marketing executive director, will serve as interim global chief marketing officer as Ford searches for a successor.

Since joining Ford in 2023 from Toyota, Materazzo has been a key architect in modernizing Ford’s global marketing function, notably spearheading the launch of the company’s new global brand strategy under the "Ready, Set, Ford" banner. 

“We appreciate Lisa’s significant contributions to the Ford+ plan, including building a world-class team, driving customer loyalty and supporting our dealers around the world. We wish her the best in her next chapter,” said Jim Farley, Ford president and CEO, in a release. “Dean has a proven track record of global marketing leadership, having served as CEO of Ford Canada and CEO of FordDirect, and brings extensive experience in digital strategy and advance product marketing to the role.”

Materazzo calls her tenure “one of the most dynamic and transformational periods in the auto industry."

"Working alongside talented colleagues across Ford, Lincoln, and Ford Pro, partnering with amazing dealers, and collaborating with outstanding agency partners to help evolve one of America’s most iconic brands has been among the most rewarding experiences of my career," she writes in a LinkedIn post. 

Before taking the top marketing job at Ford, Materazzo was the top North American marketing executive at Toyota, where she spent 20 years. She led disciplines including market planning, advertising, digital platforms, experiential marketing, motorsports and the Toyota Dealer Association.

MediaPost recognized Materazzo as its 2023 “Automotive Marketer of the Year” for her strategic consistency and innovation at Toyota. She championed consolidation of customer communications and helped the company use award-winning approaches to increase its appeal to a diverse customer base. 

Materazzo also led marketing for Toyota’s Lexus and Scion brands during pivotal periods in their expansions.  Earlier in her career, Materazzo directed automotive marketing for AOL/Verizon.

In a LinkedIn post, Materazzo says she is going to "begin a new chapter."

"As I look ahead, I’m energized by the possibilities of what comes next," she writes on LinkedIn, along with sharing a Helen Keller quote:  “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all."

"I choose adventure!" she concludes.