Ford hires ex-Apple TV Plus chief Peter Stern to lead the customer software team

Ford mentioned it’s hiring Peter Stern, the previous Apple vice chairman of companies who helped construct up the corporate’s streaming TV operation, to guide its effort to enhance prospects’ software program expertise.

Stern left Apple initially of the 12 months after a six-year tenure heading up the launch of a portfolio of companies, together with Apple TV Plus, Apple Information Plus, Apple Arcade, Apple Health Plus, MLS Season Go, and Apple One.

At Ford, he’s being tasked with constructing “a world-class crew to create and market progressive buyer experiences by integrating {hardware}, software program and companies throughout Ford Blue, Mannequin e and Ford Professional,” the corporate mentioned. Stern will report on to Ford CEO Jim Farley.

“That is transformational, as a result of the cornerstone of our Ford+ plan is creating unbelievable buyer companies and experiences enabled by nice {hardware} and software program,” Farley mentioned in a press release. “There’s merely nobody on the planet higher in a position than Peter Stern to construct this strategically important a part of our enterprise.”

Stern joins one other Apple veteran on the Blue Oval: Doug Area, who served as VP of particular initiatives. Area was the de facto head of Apple’s efforts to make an autonomous electrical automobile referred to as Undertaking Titan.