Electric vehicle pioneer wins Autocar’s Great British Women in the Car Industry – Rising Stars 2019

Emma King, Ford’s senior purchasing manager at the forefront of the marque’s $11bn investment in EVs, has been named the winner of Autocar’s Great British Women in the Car Industry – Rising Stars 2019 initiative, held in partnership with the SMMT.

King came top of Autocar’s Purchasing category and went on to beat eight other category winners from the list of 100 of the most talented rising stars in the car industry.

Outstanding individuals across categories including marketing, sales, people development and manufacturing are celebrating their respective achievements today at an event held at 30 Euston Square, London.

King started her career as a commercial vehicle buyer for Ford in 2007 and has risen through the ranks to lead the firm’s electric vehicle charge in purchasing and manage a team across the US, the EU and China.

She has been an instrumental part of teams driving key technological changes in the industry. Her most recent role has involved heading up the procurement of global battery cells, coming at a crucial time for Ford as it restructures its business and prepares for the rapid growth in electrified vehicles.

Autocar editor Mark Tisshaw said: “Emma’s impressive rise at Ford is the perfect showcase for everything we are celebrating here today. The car industry is always experimenting, pushing boundaries and looking into new technologies, and Emma’s role perfectly highlights how exciting it is to be part of. The ambition and success of all our top 100 rising stars demonstrate the breadth of exciting career opportunities within modern automotive.”

King said: “The work I do with Ford is a really exciting area to be involved in. Investing heavily in an electric future means our work is at the forefront of the migration to new technologies and services.

“It is a huge privilege to have been chosen as this year’s winner of Autocar’s Great British Women in the Car Industry – Rising Stars, and I would like to convey my sincere thanks to the entire team at Autocar and the SMMT for this honour. I am deeply thankful to have been considered alongside such accomplished and varied female talent and hope that we can, in turn, inspire future generations.”

Chair of the judging panel and managing director of Autocar and Haymarket Automotive, Rachael Prasher, said: “It is always exciting for us to recognise the leading women in our industry, but this year’s event feels particularly special. Not only are we looking at the strength of the UK’s automotive industry at the moment, but we are celebrating the names to look out for, carrying the industry into the future.

“Our list of 100 rising stars is only a snapshot of the great work women are doing to make a name for themselves in the automotive industry, and the essential role that women will continue to have in developing the UK’s automotive landscape in the years to come.”

Run in partnership with the SMMT, Autocar’s Great British Women in the Car Industry – Rising Stars is supported by headline sponsors CDK Global, Nissan and Toyota, and support partners Peugeot and Volkswagen Group.

SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: “We are delighted to continue to support this fantastic initiative, which rightly celebrates success while working to encourage more women into the industry. There has never been a more exciting time to join the motor sector, with developments in electrification, digitalisation and AI resulting in a seismic shift in innovation.

“With such a widening range of exciting roles, it is more important than ever to attract talent from across all backgrounds, abilities and genders. The calibre of nominees this year was exceptional and once again highlights the women excelling in our sector and the crucial role they play now and in the future. This can only inspire more women to join our industry, helping shape the future mobility of the UK.”

This year’s event features a panel debate with some of the industry’s biggest names chaired by Prasher, along with keynote speeches from Aston Martin’s president of the Americas, Laura Schwab, and Peugeot ambassador and former Fed Cup captain Judy Murray.