Mike Ford

Unlike many of the other heavily technical Autodesk co-founders, Mike Ford possessed a deep background in aggressive sales, software marketing, and strategic business development. His experience in the early software retail market allowed him to understand exactly how to position AutoCAD to architects and engineers, establishing the critical third-party dealer networks that ultimately secured Autodesk's commercial dominance.

Mike Ford was one of the original sixteen co-founders of Autodesk and played an absolutely vital, foundational role in the company's early commercial and financial success. While John Walker and Dan Drake focused heavily on the engineering and core software architecture of AutoCAD, Ford provided the critical business, sales, and marketing acumen necessary to successfully sell the product. He served as the company's first vice president of marketing and sales, aggressively pushing AutoCAD to early adopters. By successfully establishing the widespread, incredibly lucrative third-party dealer network, Ford allowed the software to rapidly dominate the global drafting market, securing Autodesk's long-term commercial viability.