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* {{marriage|Mitchell Seldin|2022}}
* {{marriage|Mitchell Seldin|2022}}
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| children = 3

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| children =
| parents = [[Stavros Niarchos]]<br />Charlotte Ford
| parents = [[Stavros Niarchos]]<br />Charlotte Ford
| relations = [[Henry Ford II]] (grandfather)<br /> [[Philip Niarchos]] (half-brother)<br />[[Spyros Niarchos]] (half-brother)
| relations = [[Henry Ford II]] (grandfather)<br /> [[Philip Niarchos]] (half-brother)<br />[[Spyros Niarchos]] (half-brother)
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'''Elena Anne Ford-Niarchos''' (born May 25, 1966) is an American businesswoman. She is the Chief [[customer experience|Customer Experience]] Officer at [[Ford Motor Company]] and the first woman in the Ford family to hold an executive position at the company.<ref name="first-female">[[USA Today]], [https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/driveon/2013/02/15/elena-ford-vice-president-henry-ford/1923555/ Elena Ford is first woman Ford family member to hold a significant position at the automaker.] February 15, 2013. Retrieved February 24, 2013.</ref>


⚫
'''Elena Anne Ford-Niarchos''' ([[née]] '''Ford'''; born May 25, 1966) is an American businesswoman. She is the Chief [[customer experience|Customer Experience]] Officer at [[Ford Motor Company]] and the first woman in the Ford family to hold an executive position at the company.<ref name="first-female">[[USA Today]], [https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/driveon/2013/02/15/elena-ford-vice-president-henry-ford/1923555/ Elena Ford is first woman Ford family member to hold a significant position at the automaker.] February 15, 2013. Retrieved February 24, 2013.</ref>

==Early life and education==
⚫
Ford was born May 25, 1966 in [[New York City]], the only child of Charlotte M. Ford, an heiress and socialite, and [[Stavros Niarchos]], a Greek shipping magnate.<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/1971/10/22/archives/niarchos-weds-tina-livanos-formerly-the-wife-of-onassis.html</ref> Her parents were briefly married and ultimately divorced in 1967.<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/1971/10/22/archives/niarchos-weds-tina-livanos-formerly-the-wife-of-onassis.html</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=TIME |date=1965-12-24 |title=Society: An International Marriage |url=https://time.com/archive/6628715/society-an-international-marriage/ |access-date=2024-12-25 |website=TIME |language=en}}</ref> Her mother married [[J. Anthony Forstmann]] in 1973<ref>{{Cite web |author=Enid Nemy |date=May 2, 1973 |title=Charlotte Ford Is Wed to J. A. Forstmann |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/05/02/archives/charlotte-ford-is-wed-to-j-a-forstmann-matron-of-honor-dinner-dance.html |work=The New York Times}}</ref> and later [[Edward Downe Jr.]], the founder and chairman of [[Downe Communications]] in 1986.<ref name="nytimes.com">{{Cite news |date=September 1986 |title=Charlotte Ford Wed to Edward Downe Jr |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/09/01/style/charlotte-ford-wed-to-edward-downe-jr.html |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>

⚫
Elena is the great-great-granddaughter of company founder [[Henry Ford]], and granddaughter of longtime Ford Motor Company president [[Henry Ford II]].<ref name=":0" /> Elena was close to her maternal grandfather, Henry Ford II, once referring to him as her best friend. Henry taught Elena to drive a [[Manual transmission|stick shift]] in his [[Ford F-Series|F-100]] [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] pick-up truck insisting she learned to drive a manual and not an automatic.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Maggie Barry |date=August 15, 2014 |title=Elena Ford - granddaughter of Henry Ford II is focused on customers |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/motoring/peoples-ford-likes-focus-customers-4051932 |publisher=Daily Record}}</ref>

Ford received a bachelor's degree in business from [[New York University]].<ref>{{cite news |date=January 28, 2009 |title=Elena Ford |url=https://www.pressreader.com/usa/the-detroit-news/20090128/281517927007326 |publisher=The Detroit News}}</ref>
==Career==
==Career==
Ford worked in advertising as a senior account executive at Wells, Rich Greene Advertising in [[New York City]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/driveon/2013/02/15/elena-ford-vice-president-henry-ford/1923555/|title=Heiress Elena Ford is named a vice president of Ford|last=Press|first=Alissa Priddle, Detroit Free|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US|access-date=November 18, 2019}}</ref> In 1995, she joined Ford Motor Company as a marketing executive.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-15/henry-ford-heir-named-to-top-customer-service-post-at-automaker|title=Henry Ford Heir Named to Top Customer Service Post at Automaker|publisher=Bloomberg Business|date=October 15, 2018|author=Keith Naughton}}</ref> She was later named the company's director of [[global marketing]] and was responsible for marketing, product management, and sales support activities. During this time, she marketed the company's development into mobility services.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/henry-fords-great-great-granddaughters-vision-stress-driving/story?id=37903991|title=Henry Ford's Great-Great Granddaughter's Vision for No-Stress Driving and Car Ownership|author=Alyssa Newcomb|date=March 25, 2016|work=ABC News}}</ref>
Ford worked in advertising as a senior account executive at Wells, Rich Greene Advertising in [[New York City]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/driveon/2013/02/15/elena-ford-vice-president-henry-ford/1923555/|title=Heiress Elena Ford is named a vice president of Ford|last=Press|first=Alissa Priddle, Detroit Free|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US|access-date=November 18, 2019}}</ref> In 1995, she joined Ford Motor Company as a marketing executive.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-15/henry-ford-heir-named-to-top-customer-service-post-at-automaker|title=Henry Ford Heir Named to Top Customer Service Post at Automaker|publisher=Bloomberg Business|date=October 15, 2018|author=Keith Naughton}}</ref> She was later named the company's director of [[global marketing]] and was responsible for marketing, product management, and sales support activities. During this time, she marketed the company's development into mobility services.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/henry-fords-great-great-granddaughters-vision-stress-driving/story?id=37903991|title=Henry Ford's Great-Great Granddaughter's Vision for No-Stress Driving and Car Ownership|author=Alyssa Newcomb|date=March 25, 2016|work=ABC News}}</ref>
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In 2019, she spearheaded the launch of a 500-person call center in Houston, Texas, providing support for Ford truck owners and dealers experiencing technical issues. She also launched Ford's “Own the Call” initiative.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/ford/2019/09/09/ford-opens-call-center-focused-truck-owners/2264671001/|title=Ford opens call center focused on truck owners|last=Thibodeau|first=Ian|website=Detroit News|language=en|access-date=November 21, 2019}}</ref>
In 2019, she spearheaded the launch of a 500-person call center in Houston, Texas, providing support for Ford truck owners and dealers experiencing technical issues. She also launched Ford's “Own the Call” initiative.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/ford/2019/09/09/ford-opens-call-center-focused-truck-owners/2264671001/|title=Ford opens call center focused on truck owners|last=Thibodeau|first=Ian|website=Detroit News|language=en|access-date=November 21, 2019}}</ref>


==Life==
== Personal life ==
In 1991, she firstly married Stanley Jozef Olender (1960–2016)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-02-22 |title=Stanley J. Olender, Formerly Of Southampton, Dies February 17 |url=https://www.27east.com/southampton-press/stanley-j-olender-formerly-of-southampton-dies-february-17-1457345/ |access-date=2024-12-25 |website=27 East |language=en-US}}</ref>, the owner of Stanley O's, an estate maintenance service in [[Southampton, New York]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 6, 1991 |title=Elena Ford-Niarchos Is Married To Stanley Olender in Southampton |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/06/style/elena-ford-niarchos-is-married-to-stanley-olender-in-southampton.html |work=The New York Times}}</ref> They had one daughter:
[[File:Elena Ford 2019.jpg|thumb|alt=Elena Ford|right|Elena Ford at the Houston Call Center|250px]]

⚫
Elena Anne Ford-Niarchos was born in [[New York City]] to Charlotte Ford and [[Greeks|Greek]] shipping magnate [[Stavros Niarchos]].<ref name="Notes on People">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/10/22/archives/niarchos-weds-tina-livanos-formerly-the-wife-of-onassis.html|title=Notes on People|date=October 22, 1971|work=The New York Times|access-date=November 21, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> After her parents divorced in 1967,<ref name="Notes on People"/> Elena's mother married [[J. Anthony Forstmann]] in 1973<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/05/02/archives/charlotte-ford-is-wed-to-j-a-forstmann-matron-of-honor-dinner-dance.html|title=Charlotte Ford Is Wed to J. A. Forstmann|work=The New York Times|date=May 2, 1973|author=Enid Nemy}}</ref> and later [[Edward Downe Jr.]], the founder and chairman of [[Downe Communications]] in 1986.<ref name="nytimes.com">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/09/01/style/charlotte-ford-wed-to-edward-downe-jr.html|title = Charlotte Ford Wed to Edward Downe Jr|newspaper = The New York Times|date = September 1986}}</ref>
* Charlotte "Little Charlotte" Ford

On June 2, 1996, Ford married Joseph Daniel Rippolone, a plumber and mechanic, originally from [[Long Island]]. They had two children:


* Alessandro Ford Ripplone
⚫
Elena is the great-great-granddaughter of company founder [[Henry Ford]], and granddaughter of longtime Ford Motor Company president [[Henry Ford II]].<ref name=":0" /> Elena was close to her maternal grandfather, Henry Ford II, once referring to him as her best friend. Henry taught Elena to drive a stick shift in his [[Ford F-Series|F-100]] Ford pick-up truck insisting she learned to drive a manual and not an automatic.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/motoring/peoples-ford-likes-focus-customers-4051932|title=Elena Ford - granddaughter of Henry Ford II is focused on customers|author=Maggie Barry|date=August 15, 2014|publisher=Daily Record}}</ref>
* Annabelle Ford Ripplone


In 2008, Ford and Rippolone divorced by mutual agreement.<ref>{{cite web |title=TAMPA BAY: A love of cars, the family name shape a Ford |url=http://www.sptimes.com/2003/05/08/TampaBay/A_love_of_cars__the_f.shtml |access-date=June 19, 2015 |work=sptimes.com}}</ref> Elena Ford married Mitchell Seldin on July 30, 2022.
Ford received a bachelor's degree in business from [[New York University]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Elena Ford|publisher=The Detroit News|date=January 28, 2009|url=https://www.pressreader.com/usa/the-detroit-news/20090128/281517927007326}}</ref> In 1991, she married Stanley Jozef Olender, the owner of Stanley O's, an estate maintenance service in [[Southampton, New York]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/06/style/elena-ford-niarchos-is-married-to-stanley-olender-in-southampton.html|title=Elena Ford-Niarchos Is Married To Stanley Olender in Southampton|work=The New York Times|date=October 6, 1991}}</ref> In 1996, she divorced Olender and married Joseph Daniel Rippolone.<ref>[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9402E3D61E39F931A35755C0A960958260 WEDDINGS;Elena Ford and Joseph Rippolone - New York Times<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> In 2008, Ford and Rippolone divorced by mutual agreement.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2003/05/08/TampaBay/A_love_of_cars__the_f.shtml|title=TAMPA BAY: A love of cars, the family name shape a Ford|work=sptimes.com|access-date=June 19, 2015}}</ref> Elena Ford married Mitchell Seldin on July 30, 2022.


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 22:17, 25 December 2024

Elena Ford
Elena Ford
Elena Ford at the Houston Call Center
Born
Elena Anne Ford-Niarchos

May 25, 1966 (1966-05-25) (age 58)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Other namesElena Ford-Niarchos
Alma materNew York University
Occupation(s)Chief Customer Experience Officer, Ford Motor Company
Spouses
Stanley Jozef Olender
​
​
(m. 1991; div. 1996)​
Joseph Daniel Rippolone
​
​
(m. 1996; div. 2008)​
Mitchell Seldin
​
(m. 2022)​
Children3
Parent(s)Stavros Niarchos
Charlotte Ford
RelativesHenry Ford II (grandfather)
Philip Niarchos (half-brother)
Spyros Niarchos (half-brother)

Elena Anne Ford-Niarchos (née Ford; born May 25, 1966) is an American businesswoman. She is the Chief Customer Experience Officer at Ford Motor Company and the first woman in the Ford family to hold an executive position at the company.[1]

Early life and education

Ford was born May 25, 1966 in New York City, the only child of Charlotte M. Ford, an heiress and socialite, and Stavros Niarchos, a Greek shipping magnate.[2] Her parents were briefly married and ultimately divorced in 1967.[3][4] Her mother married J. Anthony Forstmann in 1973[5] and later Edward Downe Jr., the founder and chairman of Downe Communications in 1986.[6]

Elena is the great-great-granddaughter of company founder Henry Ford, and granddaughter of longtime Ford Motor Company president Henry Ford II.[7] Elena was close to her maternal grandfather, Henry Ford II, once referring to him as her best friend. Henry taught Elena to drive a stick shift in his F-100 Ford pick-up truck insisting she learned to drive a manual and not an automatic.[8]

Ford received a bachelor's degree in business from New York University.[9]

Career

Ford worked in advertising as a senior account executive at Wells, Rich Greene Advertising in New York City.[10] In 1995, she joined Ford Motor Company as a marketing executive.[11] She was later named the company's director of global marketing and was responsible for marketing, product management, and sales support activities. During this time, she marketed the company's development into mobility services.[12]

In 2012, Elena was assigned to lead the global Dealer and Consumer Experience group. She was responsible for standardizing the way dealerships interact with customers around the world and oversaw global dealer strategy, planning, training and consumer experience.[7]

In 2013, Elena became vice president, Customer Experience and Global Dealer, making her one of thirty-eight officers running the company and the first female Ford family member to hold an executive leadership position.[13]

In October 2018, Elena Ford was announced as the company's first Chief Customer Experience Officer. In this role, she leads the organization in creating a world-class customer experience for all Ford customers.[14]

In 2019, she spearheaded the launch of a 500-person call center in Houston, Texas, providing support for Ford truck owners and dealers experiencing technical issues. She also launched Ford's “Own the Call” initiative.[15]

Personal life

In 1991, she firstly married Stanley Jozef Olender (1960–2016)[16], the owner of Stanley O's, an estate maintenance service in Southampton, New York.[17] They had one daughter:

  • Charlotte "Little Charlotte" Ford

On June 2, 1996, Ford married Joseph Daniel Rippolone, a plumber and mechanic, originally from Long Island. They had two children:

  • Alessandro Ford Ripplone
  • Annabelle Ford Ripplone

In 2008, Ford and Rippolone divorced by mutual agreement.[18] Elena Ford married Mitchell Seldin on July 30, 2022.

See also

References

  1. ^ USA Today, Elena Ford is first woman Ford family member to hold a significant position at the automaker. February 15, 2013. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
  2. ^ https://www.nytimes.com/1971/10/22/archives/niarchos-weds-tina-livanos-formerly-the-wife-of-onassis.html
  3. ^ https://www.nytimes.com/1971/10/22/archives/niarchos-weds-tina-livanos-formerly-the-wife-of-onassis.html
  4. ^ TIME (December 24, 1965). "Society: An International Marriage". TIME. Retrieved December 25, 2024.
  5. ^ Enid Nemy (May 2, 1973). "Charlotte Ford Is Wed to J. A. Forstmann". The New York Times.
  6. ^ "Charlotte Ford Wed to Edward Downe Jr". The New York Times. September 1986.
  7. ^ a b "Elena Ford: driven to succeed". ArabianBusiness.com. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  8. ^ Maggie Barry (August 15, 2014). "Elena Ford - granddaughter of Henry Ford II is focused on customers". Daily Record.
  9. ^ "Elena Ford". The Detroit News. January 28, 2009.
  10. ^ Press, Alissa Priddle, Detroit Free. "Heiress Elena Ford is named a vice president of Ford". USA TODAY. Retrieved November 18, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ Keith Naughton (October 15, 2018). "Henry Ford Heir Named to Top Customer Service Post at Automaker". Bloomberg Business.
  12. ^ Alyssa Newcomb (March 25, 2016). "Henry Ford's Great-Great Granddaughter's Vision for No-Stress Driving and Car Ownership". ABC News.
  13. ^ "Elana Ford is named VP of automaker", Detroit Free Press, February 15, 2012, page 12A
  14. ^ Ian Thibodeau (October 15, 2018). "Ford heir to lead global push for better service". The Detroit News.
  15. ^ Thibodeau, Ian. "Ford opens call center focused on truck owners". Detroit News. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  16. ^ "Stanley J. Olender, Formerly Of Southampton, Dies February 17". 27 East. February 22, 2016. Retrieved December 25, 2024.
  17. ^ "Elena Ford-Niarchos Is Married To Stanley Olender in Southampton". The New York Times. October 6, 1991.
  18. ^ "TAMPA BAY: A love of cars, the family name shape a Ford". sptimes.com. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
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