From Tobermore to Detroit: Lyle Watters and The Unconventional Path to Leading Ford
Wed Feb 04 2026
From his family’s undertaking business in Tobermore to the "Glass House" in Detroit, Lyle Watters’ journey to the top of Ford Motor Company is a masterclass in resilience. In this episode of Trading Up, Lyle reveals how he navigated an unconventional career path to lead operations across three continents.
We dive deep into his toughest assignments: negotiating with Prime Ministers in Romania; managing a 100-day Covid lockdown in China; and turning around a "hopeless" $1 billion loss in South America while under armed guard.
Lyle shares candid insights on the burden of leadership, recounting how he personally addressed staff during painful plant closures to tell them, "This is not your fault".
Packed with actionable lessons on radical transparency, the EV revolution, and why organisations must "stay paranoid" to survive, this is essential listening for aspiring leaders and business strategists.
Disclaimer
Brought to you in association with EY. The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not reflect the views or positions of EY or its other member Firms. EY proudly sponsors the Trading Up podcast but does not endorse or take responsibility for any statements made by individual guests. The Trading Up podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute professional advice.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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From his family’s undertaking business in Tobermore to the "Glass House" in Detroit, Lyle Watters’ journey to the top of Ford Motor Company is a masterclass in resilience. In this episode of Trading Up, Lyle reveals how he navigated an unconventional career path to lead operations across three continents. We dive deep into his toughest assignments: negotiating with Prime Ministers in Romania; managing a 100-day Covid lockdown in China; and turning around a "hopeless" $1 billion loss in South America while under armed guard. Lyle shares candid insights on the burden of leadership, recounting how he personally addressed staff during painful plant closures to tell them, "This is not your fault". Packed with actionable lessons on radical transparency, the EV revolution, and why organisations must "stay paranoid" to survive, this is essential listening for aspiring leaders and business strategists. Disclaimer Brought to you in association with EY. The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not reflect the views or positions of EY or its other member Firms. EY proudly sponsors the Trading Up podcast but does not endorse or take responsibility for any statements made by individual guests. The Trading Up podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.