Caseda Joins Ford as Head of Global Strategy

Auto analyst and investment banker John Casesa, 52, will join Ford Motor Co. on March 1 as group vice president of global strategy.

His primary role will be to help guide Ford's investments in new technologies and business models as the company prepares for fundamental shifts in the nature of the auto industry and personal transportation. He will report to CEO Mark Fields.

Casesa will review existing business strategies and look for new opportunities for growth. He also will take a leading role in shaping the Ford Smart Mobility plan unveiled by Fields at the Consumer Electronics Show in January.

The initiative reflects Ford's conviction that carmaking is poised to undergo its greatest transformation ever. Fields has said such innovations as car sharing, connectivity, self-driving vehicles and multi-modal options will redefine what cars look like and how or if they are used.

Casesa was a highly regarded automotive analyst for nearly 20 years. More recently he spent nearly five years as a senor managing director in charge of automotive investments at the Guggenheim Partners in New York City.