United States. Isabelle McKenzie, current vice president and president and general manager of Drivetrain and Morse Systems at BorgWarner, was recognized as one of the 100 Women Leaders in the Automotive Industry in North America.
McKenzie, along with other prominent industry executives, was featured in the magazine's May 19 issue and honored at a special gala held at The Henry in Dearborn, Michigan.
This recognition, which Automotive News has given every five years since 2000, highlights women with leadership roles and significant influence within the automotive industry. The 2025 edition includes female engineers, mobility leaders, manufacturing, marketing and finance executives, as well as designers and dealer owners.
"In the last 25 years, in six editions of Women Leaders, Automotive News has honored 442 female executives. This year, the group includes 24 female presidents and CEOs, and nine other C-suite executives; the first group, in 2000, included 14 female presidents and CEOs and five more in senior management," said Mary Beth Vander Schaaf, senior director of editorial operations at Automotive News.
McKenzie assumed his current role in July 2024, leading the global business of Drivetrain and Morse Systems. Previously, she was President and CEO of BorgWarner Morse Systems. Since joining the company in 2014, he has held several management positions. Throughout his career, he has worked in France and the United States for companies such as Siemens Automotive, Continental, and BorgWarner, accumulating more than three decades of experience in the sector.
With a degree in physics from the National Institute of Applied Sciences in Toulouse, France, McKenzie has co-authored 25 technical papers and nine automotive patents. In addition, she is active in social causes, as a United Way ambassador for Southeast Michigan.
"Our selection committee had to make very difficult decisions; it becomes more challenging every time," Vander Schaaf commented. "The talented and powerful executives on this list are at the forefront of thousands of successful women in the automotive industry."
The selection process for this edition took several months and included hundreds of nominations from the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Since 1925, Automotive News has established itself as the leading source of information for automotive distributors, suppliers and manufacturers. Unlike other publications, it is funded exclusively by subscriptions, with a weekly print edition, website, podcast, e-newsletters and videos, supported by a global editorial team of more than 65 journalists.
