In today's business world, even perennial powerhouses like Ford Motor Company cannot afford to overlook the ecommerce landscape, which continues to evolve at a frantic rate. This explains why the auto giant recently went out and poached digital expert Mike Amend from Lowe's.
Since September 2021, Amend has served as Ford's Chief Digital and Information Officer, arriving less than a month after news broke that Ford was looking to get more car buyers designing their vehicles online and waiting to pick them up as they’re built. In fact, some analysts say the iconic American car company is trailing rivals such as GM in the innovation race. This is where Amend, 44, comes in.
Reporting to CEO Jim Farley, Amend is responsible for spearheading the carmaker's use of data, software, and technology to drive growth. More specifically, his team works to translate customer needs into software solutions.
Interestingly, Amend doesn’t have a background in the automotive industry, but he does have plenty of experience in managing data strategies and creating digital channels that boost revenue.
Most recently at Lowe's, Amend’s team revolutionized the home improvement retailer’s online business, achieving record results and earning broad industry recognition. Furthermore, the overhaul better positioned Lowe’s to capture major revenue during the pandemic home improvement boom. Thanks to Amend's vision, the company also added a lot of new options, such as curbside pickup and in-store lockers where customers could retrieve online purchases. Under his leadership, the company’s online sales increased nearly threefold.
Before Lowe's, Amend held similar roles at JCPenney and The Home Depot, helping to grow those companies’ online businesses more than 20% and 40% annually, respectively. Earlier, he was CTO for Dell Technologies’ global online business. Prior to that, Amend began his career at Sprint as chief architect of ecommerce.
Amend holds a bachelor’s in management information services from Oklahoma State University. He also completed the executive program at the University of California, Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.
Amend is a strong advocate for giving back to the community. On top of his Ford duties, Amend is chair of the board of trustees for Texas Baptist Children’s Home. He additionally serves as a director of Canada Life, an insurance and financial services company based in Winnipeg, Manitoba.