Who was the first president of Ford Motor Company?

John S. Gray was the first president of Ford Motor Company. When Ford was incorporated in 1903, Gray became president, while Henry Ford served as vice president and chief engineer.

Gray was a Detroit businessman and banker who invested in Ford’s new company and provided important financial guidance during its early years. His leadership helped establish the organization while Ford concentrated on engineering and product development.

After Gray died in 1906, Henry Ford became president of the company. Ford then increased his control, and the business moved toward the production strategy that eventually made the Model T a mass-market success.

Henry Ford is often named first because the company carries his name and he became its central figure. Edsel Ford, Henry’s son, later served as president from 1919 until his death in 1943. James Couzens was an early investor and executive, but he was not Ford Motor Company’s first president.