Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Ford Motor Company. Although born in Isleworth (England), the son of an upholsterer, Trotman moved with his parents to Edinburgh to escape the Blitz and was educated at Boroughmuir High School. He joined Ford in 1955 as a trainee in the purchasing department, moving to the USA in 1969 and rising to the top job in 1993. Despite considerable internal opposition, he was responsible for returning the company to profit and restored its position as a major multi-national. His successes included the Cortina (1962) and the Mondeo (1995), as well as saving the Mustang. He has also been a member of the New York Stock Exchange and a Director of both IBM and ICI, serving as Chairman of the latter (2001-3).
He was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Edinburgh in 1988, knighted in 1996 and retired in 1999, being raised to a peerage in the same year.
Trotman died in Northallerton (Yorkshire, England).
