Mitch Bainwol Tapped to Head Ford’s Lobbying Efforts

Ford Motor Co. has hired Mitch Bainwol, who has headed the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (AAM) trade group since 2011, to be its chief government relations officer. The appointment is effective March 1.

Bainwol will succeed Curt Magleby, who has directed Ford's lobbying efforts on an interim basis since August. Magleby will continue to serve as vice president of U.S. government relations.

Before joining AAM, Bainwol was the CEO of the Recording Industry Assn. of America. He began his career in the U.S. Office of Management and Budget during the Regan administration, and later served as chief of staff to two U.S. senators.

In his new position, Bainwol will help shape and promote Ford’s policy and legislation on trade, the environment, autonomous vehicles, mobility, safety and taxation. He will report to Joe Hinrichs, Ford's president of global operations.

Bainwol will be Ford’s fourth chief lobbyist in less than a year. Ziad Ojakli left in July to join Japan's SoftBank Group Corp. His replacement, Steve Biegun, departed a month later to be the State Department's special envoy to North Korea, prompting Magleby’s interim appointment.