Bibiana Boerio (born 17 March 1954)^[1] is an American businesswoman. She has served as the managing director of Jaguar Cars (the first woman to hold that post), chief of staff to U.S. Representative Joe Sestak (D-PA), and interim president of Seton Hill University. She was the Democratic nominee for Pennsylvania's 14th congressional district in the 2018 election, losing to Republican Guy Reschenthaler.^[2]

Early life

Boerio was born in Latrobe, Pennsylvania to an Italian-American father, James Boerio. Boerio has two brothers and two sisters, including a twin sister.^[3] Her father was a skilled manual machining worker. She graduated from Greensburg Central Catholic School in 1971.^[4] She received her bachelor's degree in textiles and design from Seton Hill University and an MBA from Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh.^[5] She was awarded a Distinguished Alumna Leadership Award in 1995 and an honorary Doctor of Laws in 2000 from Seton Hill.^[3] As of 2018^[update] Boerio is on the board of directors of Saint Vincent College, and in 2018 she was awarded the college's Presidential Medal of Honor.^[6] Her twin sister, Juliana, is a chemistry professor.^[7]

Career

Boerio was recruited by J. Edward Lundy,^[8] leaving business school and joining Ford Motor Company in September 1976. She joined Ford's British affiliate, Jaguar Cars, in August 1995, becoming their chief finance officer - making her the first woman to serve on Jaguar's board of directors - until 2000.^{[9][10][11][12]} By October 2000, she had become head of Ford Motor Credit Company (Ford Credit), staying there until 2003.^[10] In 2004, she returned to Jaguar, this time as managing director, and in late 2005 she oversaw the launch of the all-aluminum Jaguar XK (X150).^[13]

Boerio served as chief of staff to United States Representative Joe Sestak from 2008 to 2010.^[14] She also served as interim president of Seton Hill University from 2013 to 2014.^[10][15]

On September 19, 2012, Boerio was nominated by President Barack Obama to become director of the United States Mint, however Congress never acted to confirm her appointment.^[16]

2018 U.S. House campaign

Boerio announced a congressional run in March 2018 for Pennsylvania's 14th congressional district.^[17] On May 15, 2018, she won the Democratic primary and became the party's nominee.^[18] In the November 2018 general election, Boerio was defeated by Republican Guy Reschenthaler. Boerio won 42.1% of the vote to Reschenthaler's 57.9%^[19]