Ford Motor’s Family Dynasty Takes Early Steps Toward Succession

The woman who may one day lead Ford Motor Co. was ready to make an impression.

Alexandra Ford English took the stage of a Michigan policy conference in May alongside her father Bill Ford, the storied automaker’s executive chair and great-grandson of its founder. The two hadn’t held a public speaking engagement together since English, 37, joined Ford’s board in 2021 after several years on the company’s staff, as well as stints at Gap Inc. and Tory Burch. For investors, it was a rare chance to size up the next generation.

The Ford family has led the automaker for all but two decades of ...