Ford Motor Company has appointed Lisa Drake as president of Ford Energy, effective immediately. Drake will report to John Lawler, vice chair, and lead the company’s newly formed battery energy storage systems (BESS) business announced in December 2025.
Highlights
- Lisa Drake appointed Ford Energy president, overseeing battery cell manufacturing, system assembly, and sales operations
- Ford Energy targets utility-scale battery storage for grid stability and resilience applications
- Drake brings industrialization expertise from previous role leading battery and electric propulsion engineering
- Residential energy storage included in Ford Energy’s market strategy alongside utility-scale systems
Leadership Background
Drake previously served as vice president of Technology Platform Programs and EV Systems, where she led Ford’s industrial plan for batteries and electric propulsion engineering. Her background in industrialization and purchasing positions her to operationalize the new business unit.
“Lisa has deep expertise in scaling complex industrial systems and securing critical supply chains,” said Lawler. “Her leadership is essential as we stand up Ford Energy to capture the growing demand for reliable battery energy storage that supports grid stability and resilience for utilities and large energy users.”
Business Strategy
Ford Energy will leverage the automaker’s existing battery expertise and U.S. manufacturing footprint. The business unit’s initial focus centers on utility-scale battery energy storage systems for large commercial customers.
“Ford Energy allows us to maximize the value of our battery manufacturing capabilities,” said Drake. “We’re building a business focused first on utility-scale battery energy storage systems for large customers while also offering battery cells for residential energy storage solutions.”
Customers and partners can contact Ford Energy at [email protected].
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