Ford CEO to address governors in Columbus

Ford Motor Co. President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Hackett will be in Columbus to deliver the keynote speech at the Midwestern Governors Association’s workforce summit Sept. 19-20.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich, chairman of the governors’ group, announced Hackett’s appearance in which he is expected to “discuss Ford’s belief that freedom of movement is fundamental for human progress, and how smart mobility solutions and automated technologies will be key to helping people move freely through this new era of transportation.”

Kasich has worked as governor to establish Ohio as a leader in smart-mobility research and as a premier testing ground in new transportation technology.

“Ford has played an important role in Ohio’s renaissance because of its ability to see what’s coming next, plan for it and then execute with precision. That ability will serve the company well in the face of this coming wave of technological change and Jim Hackett’s Ford Motor Company CEO Jim Hackett is expected to discuss smart technology in transportation with governors in September. leadership will be key to the company’s success,” Kasich

said in a written statement. The Ford CEO is a brother to state Sen. Bob Hackett, R-London.

Other members of the Midwestern Governors Association include Bruce Rauner of Illinois; Eric Holcomb of Indiana; Kim Reynolds of Iowa; Jeff Colyer of Kansas; Rick Snyder of Michigan; Mark Dayton of Minnesota; Michael Parson of Missouri; Pete Ricketts of Nebraska; Doug Burgum of North Dakota; Dennis Daugaard of South Dakota; and Scott Walker of Wisconsin.