FordDirect Names Meri Glade Chief Compliance Officer and General Counsel

FYI: Ford Buyer's Guide

DEARBORN, MI--Dec. 7, 2011: FordDirect, a joint venture between Ford Motor Company and its franchise dealers, announced today that Meri Glade has been named general counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of the Company. Ms. Glade joins FordDirect to oversee all legal affairs of the organization and provide counsel to the executive management team and the Board of Directors. 

Glade joins FordDirect with more than 22 years of experience, where her practice has focused primarily on corporate, securities, intellectual property, privacy and data-use law.  She was most recently general counsel to Pacific Ventures Law Group, providing corporate counsel services to companies in the digital, technology, and manufacturing verticals.  Glade served as policy counsel to the Judicial Council, the administrative arm of the California Supreme Court, and began her legal career at Brobeck, Phleger & Harrision in San Francisco, Calif., where her practice focused on complex litigation, corporate, and securities matters.

Glade earned a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a juris doctorate from the University of San Francisco School of Law.

"Meri Glade brings considerable legal experience and expertise to her new role," said Stacey Coopes, CEO of FordDirect. "Meri's expertise will empower FordDirect to continue to grow and meet our goal of helping Ford and Lincoln dealers sell more vehicles." 

About FordDirect

FordDirect is a joint venture between Ford Motor Company and its franchised dealers to create a comprehensive Web presence for dealers and provide digital marketing services that help dealers sell more cars and trucks. FordDirect provides dealers new and pre-owned marketing services, call tracking, lead management solutions, dealer Websites, search optimization and marketing, database marketing, marketing services for regional dealer advertising groups and other digital services. FordDirect is headquartered in Dearborn, Mich.