Contact: Ha Dao
937-710-3054 hadao@woh.rr.com
Detroit, June 15, 2011 – The 2010 Quality Leader of the Year Award will be presented to Mr.
Bennie Fowler , Group Vice President of Global Quality and New Model Launch, Ford Motor
Company, at the ASQ Automotive Division Annual Awards Event on June 21, 2011 at the
Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn, MI.
The Quality Leader of the Year Award is presented annually to recognize the quality leadership contributions of an outstanding automotive industry leader. The recipient is an executive who has consistently demonstrated a customer-focused quality philosophy and a defect-prevention oriented vision.
“It is truly an honor to be recognized among the top quality leaders of the automotive industry” said Ha Dao, Chairman of the ASQ Automotive Division. “Quality leadership must be the overriding goal. Fowler was selected for this award for his visionary leadership and transformational change in driving quality improvement. He is most deserving of this prestigious recognition”, said Ha Dao.
Accepting the honor, Fowler said, "Quality is the Ultimate Team Sport," and this proves true in all areas of the Ford Motor Company. Bennie Fowler has implemented a far reaching
Quality Philosophy at Ford . “Quality is in everything, in each function, in each process.
Continuous Quality Improvement is the way business is done.” said Fowler.
Fowler was nominated for his visionary leadership, ability to drive transformational change, demonstration of customer focus, demonstration of the quality philosophy, demonstration of sustained results and building of organizational capabilities.
Fowler's accomplishments include the development of a Vision of achieving World Class
Quality in every region, a Quality Strategy centering around Product, Process, People, and
Perception, a standardized Quality Operating System to sustain business results, and driving a cultural change that embraces continuous improvement by sharing best practices to spread the quality improvement.

About Bennie Fowler:
Bennie Fowler is Group Vice President, Global Quality and New Model Launch, Ford Motor
Company, effective March 1, 2010. He had been Vice President, Global Quality, since April 1,
2006. In his current role, Fowler reports directly to Alan Mulally, the company’s President and
CEO. He has responsibility for driving quality processes and discipline throughout the design and production of Ford vehicles. He is also responsible for new model launches globally and ensuring alignment with Product Development, Manufacturing, Purchasing, and Marketing.
Fowler directly influences the quality of Ford's newest model, current model and future model vehicles.
With more than 30 years experience in the automotive industry, Fowler has held key positions in the heart of the company’s business operations and began serving in leadership roles very early in his career. Prior to his quality and launch leadership role, Bennie served as Vice
President, Advanced & Manufacturing Engineering, Chief Operating Officer of Jaguar Land
Rover, Executive Director, North American Product Development and Director, North
American Manufacturing Operations.
He joined Ford as a superintendent at St. Thomas Assembly Plant in 1990 from Chrysler Corp., where he held various manufacturing management assignments. From 1978 through 1986, he worked for General Motors.
He is the founder of Powerstroke Athletic Club, an after-school youth organization based in
Southfield, Michigan. Under Fowler's leadership, Powerstroke's mission is to develop positive characteristics and values in youths through hard work, discipline, education and relationships.
He continues to be involved in the club’s day-to-day operations.
Fowler is also a member of the Board of Directors for Beaumont Hospitals. Beaumont
Hospitals is a Michigan regional health care provider in Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties. Fowler, a native of Augusta, Ga., holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, and an MBA in operations management from Indiana University.
About ASQ Automotive Division:
ASQ Automotive Division’s vision is to be recognized as the Global Leader for Automotive
Quality. The organization facilitates continuous improvement and customer satisfaction by identifying, communicating, and promoting ways to advance automotive quality-related learning and knowledge exchange to improve business results. ASQ Automotive Division is part of the American Society for Quality (ASQ), the Global Voice for Quality since 1946.
For more information, visit www.asq-auto.org