Jim Hackett led Steelcase as CEO and served as Michigan's interim athletic director. His resume is unusual for a transportation executive.
In the very new field of advanced mobility, few executives have as little experience or as incongruous a resume as Jim Hackett, 61 years old, the executive placed in charge of Ford's (F) Ford Smart Mobility unit.
Hackett's other qualities, however, may give Ford a boost.
A 30-year veteran of Steelcase, the Grand Rapids, Michigan-based maker of office furniture, Hackett retired from the company as CEO to take over in 2015 as interim athletic director of the University of Michigan.