The head of Apple’s car project, Doug Field, will join Ford Motor, where he will lead the company’s advanced technology and embedded systems efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In his new position, Field will report to Ford Chief Executive Jim Farley while working with Ford’s chief product platform and operations officer Hau Thai-Tang, who oversees the development and design of cars and trucks, the supply chain and other operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Field’s employment and the management structure created for him underscore the increasing importance of software and digital networking in the automotive industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Field is now expected to address the growing need to blend Silicon Valley’s software culture with the automotive industry’s manufacturing mentality – a problem that continues to prove difficult for many tech startups and automaker executives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Commenting on the deal, Farley said: “This is a watershed moment for our company.”<\/p>\n\n\n