Lisa Brankin

Managing director and UK chair, Ford of Britain and Ireland

Ford UK and Ireland Chair Lisa Brankin has been named the most influential woman in the British automotive industry at the Autocar Great Women Awards 2026.

Having first joined the company as a graduate trainee over 25 years ago, Brankin was celebrated for her masterful navigation of Ford’s most significant evolution to date.

She has moved the brand beyond the initial hurdles of electrification and into a dominant, digital-first era, successfully scaling a new generation of electric models while revolutionising how the British public interacts with the brand.

By seamlessly integrating advanced software services and autonomous technologies with the century-old values that define Ford’s heritage, she has ensured the manufacturer remains a cornerstone of the UK’s automotive landscape in a rapidly shifting world.

Autocar editor Mark Tisshaw said: “Lisa Brankin is deeply impressive as Ford’s UK boss, keeping the brand in the fight for top spots while transitioning it into a new era – both with electric passenger cars and with its growing commercial vehicle arm. This shows why she is so highly valued by the global brand and why she herself is so influential within the industry.”