James Hackett

James Hackett
Born	James Patrick Hackett 10 12, 1955
Birthplace	Columbus, Ohio, United States
Nationality	American
Occupation	Business executive
Known for	CEO of Steelcase (1994–2014), CEO of Ford Motor Company (2017–2020)
Education	University of Michigan (MBA)

James Patrick Hackett (born December 10, 1955) is an American business executive who served as the president and chief executive officer of Ford Motor Company from May 2017 to October 2020, and before that as the president and chief executive officer of Steelcase, the world's largest office furniture manufacturer, from 1994 to 2014. Hackett's career has spanned several decades in American corporate leadership, with tenures that placed him at the intersection of manufacturing, design thinking, and the automotive industry during a period of significant technological disruption. His appointment at Ford came at a time when the automaker was seeking to redefine its strategic direction amid growing competition from technology companies entering the transportation sector. Before and after his time at Ford, Hackett also served on the boards of several prominent organizations and was known within corporate circles for his emphasis on organizational culture, design-centered management, and long-term strategic planning. His two-decade leadership of Steelcase transformed the Grand Rapids, Michigan–based company into a global enterprise, and his subsequent move to Ford represented one of the more unconventional CEO selections in the history of the American automobile industry.

Early Life

James Patrick Hackett was born on December 10, 1955, in Columbus, Ohio. He grew up in the Columbus area, where he developed an early interest in sports and competition. As a young man, Hackett was an accomplished athlete, playing football at a high level. He attended high school in the Columbus metropolitan area before pursuing higher education at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he would play on the varsity football team as an offensive lineman. His time as a student-athlete at Michigan had a formative influence on his leadership philosophy, and Hackett frequently referenced the discipline and teamwork he learned through competitive athletics in his later career as a corporate executive. His connection to the University of Michigan would remain a defining element of his professional identity and civic engagement throughout his life.

Education

Hackett attended the University of Michigan, where he earned his undergraduate degree. He played as an offensive lineman on the Michigan Wolverines football team during the mid-1970s, an experience that he later credited with shaping his approach to teamwork and organizational leadership. He subsequently pursued graduate studies, earning a Master of Business Administration degree. His academic background combined liberal arts education with business training, and Hackett maintained close ties with the University of Michigan throughout his career, eventually serving on its Board of Regents and as the interim athletic director during a period of institutional transition.

Career

Steelcase (1981–2014)

Hackett joined Steelcase, headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1981. The company, founded in 1912, had established itself as the largest manufacturer of office furniture in the world. Hackett rose through the ranks over the course of more than a decade, holding a series of increasingly senior positions within the organization. In 1994, he was named president and chief executive officer of Steelcase, a position he would hold for the next two decades.

During his tenure as CEO, Hackett oversaw the transformation of Steelcase from a traditional office furniture manufacturer into a company that positioned itself at the forefront of workplace design and organizational culture. Under his leadership, Steelcase expanded its global operations, invested in research related to how physical environments affect worker productivity and well-being, and developed partnerships with design firms and academic institutions. The company's revenue grew substantially during the 1990s and early 2000s, and Steelcase became publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

Hackett's management philosophy at Steelcase was influenced by the principles of design thinking, an approach to problem-solving that emphasizes empathy, iterative prototyping, and human-centered design. He became a prominent advocate for applying design thinking to corporate strategy and organizational management, a perspective that distinguished him from many of his peers in the manufacturing sector. Under his direction, Steelcase invested in understanding the changing nature of work, including the rise of collaborative and flexible office environments, and the company's product lines evolved to reflect these trends.

Hackett also navigated Steelcase through significant economic challenges, including the dot-com bust of the early 2000s and the global financial crisis of 2008–2009, both of which had substantial impacts on the commercial real estate and office furniture industries. The company undertook restructuring efforts during these periods, including workforce reductions and facility consolidations, while continuing to invest in research and product development.

He stepped down as CEO of Steelcase in 2014, transitioning to the role of chairman of the board. His twenty-year tenure as CEO was one of the longest in the company's history and left a lasting imprint on Steelcase's corporate identity and strategic direction.

University of Michigan Interim Athletic Director

In 2014, following his departure from the CEO role at Steelcase, Hackett was appointed as the interim athletic director of the University of Michigan. The appointment came during a period of transition and controversy within the university's athletic department. As interim athletic director, Hackett was responsible for overseeing one of the largest and most prominent collegiate athletic programs in the United States, encompassing more than two dozen varsity sports teams and facilities including Michigan Stadium, the largest stadium in the Western Hemisphere.

During his time in the role, Hackett made several significant decisions, including the hiring of Jim Harbaugh as the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines football team in December 2014. The Harbaugh hiring was considered a major coup for the program, as Harbaugh, a former Michigan quarterback who had gone on to coach in the NFL, was one of the most sought-after coaching candidates in college football at the time. Hackett's role in securing Harbaugh's return to Ann Arbor was seen as one of the defining accomplishments of his interim tenure. He served as interim athletic director until 2016, when a permanent replacement was named.

Ford Motor Company (2017–2020)

On May 22, 2017, Ford Motor Company announced that Hackett had been named president and chief executive officer, succeeding Mark Fields. The appointment surprised many industry observers, as Hackett did not have a background in the automotive industry. Ford's executive chairman, Bill Ford Jr., stated that Hackett's experience with organizational transformation and design thinking made him the right choice to lead the company through a period of rapid technological change in the transportation sector, including the emergence of electric vehicles, autonomous driving technology, and mobility services.

Hackett had joined Ford's board of directors in 2013 and had been serving as the head of Ford Smart Mobility, the company's subsidiary focused on autonomous vehicles and connected transportation services, since March 2016. His appointment as CEO signaled Ford's intention to accelerate its transformation from a traditional automaker into a broader mobility company.

Strategic Initiatives at Ford

Upon taking the helm at Ford, Hackett initiated a broad strategic restructuring of the company. One of his most significant early decisions was a comprehensive review of Ford's global operations, which led to a restructuring plan that included the elimination of most sedan and small car models from Ford's North American lineup. Under this plan, announced in 2018, Ford would focus its North American passenger vehicle portfolio primarily on trucks, SUVs, and crossovers, along with the iconic Mustang. The decision reflected shifting consumer preferences in the United States, where trucks and SUVs had come to dominate the market, but it also represented a calculated bet on higher-margin vehicles.

Hackett also oversaw the early stages of Ford's investment in electric vehicle development, including the planning and initial development work for what would become the Mustang Mach-E, Ford's first purpose-built mass-market electric vehicle, and the electric version of the F-150 pickup truck, later named the F-150 Lightning. These vehicles would be launched after his departure but were rooted in strategic decisions made during his tenure.

In the area of autonomous vehicles, Hackett continued to push Ford's partnership with Argo AI, a self-driving technology startup in which Ford had made a significant investment. The partnership aimed to develop a self-driving system that could be deployed in commercial ride-hailing and delivery services. Hackett positioned autonomous driving technology as central to Ford's long-term strategy, though the timeline for commercialization proved more challenging than initially projected.

Hackett also undertook a significant restructuring of Ford's global operations. The company announced plans to reduce its workforce, particularly in salaried and management positions, and to exit or restructure underperforming markets. Ford wound down its operations in several international markets and consolidated its focus on regions where it held stronger competitive positions, including North America, Europe, and China.

Challenges and Criticism

Hackett's tenure at Ford was marked by both strategic ambition and operational challenges. Ford's stock price declined during much of his time as CEO, and the company's financial performance lagged behind some of its competitors. Critics pointed to execution problems in several areas, including quality issues with some vehicle launches, delays in the rollout of new models, and what some analysts described as a slow pace of decision-making relative to the urgency of the competitive environment.

The company's efforts in autonomous vehicles and mobility services, which had been a central rationale for Hackett's appointment, proved more difficult and expensive to commercialize than anticipated. While Ford invested billions of dollars in these areas, tangible returns remained elusive during Hackett's tenure, and questions arose about the timeline and viability of some of the company's technology bets.

Hackett also faced criticism from some quarters for his communication style, which some analysts and investors found to be abstract and insufficiently focused on near-term financial metrics. His emphasis on design thinking and organizational culture, while respected in some management circles, was viewed by some Wall Street analysts as lacking the operational urgency required for a company of Ford's scale and competitive pressures.

Departure from Ford

On October 1, 2020, Hackett stepped down as CEO of Ford Motor Company. He was succeeded by Jim Farley, who had been serving as Ford's chief operating officer. Ford's executive chairman, Bill Ford Jr., expressed gratitude for Hackett's contributions, noting that many of the strategic initiatives Hackett had set in motion—including the focus on electric vehicles, the restructuring of the product portfolio, and the reorganization of global operations—would continue under Farley's leadership.

Hackett transitioned to the role of special adviser to Ford's executive chairman, a position intended to facilitate a smooth leadership transition. His departure was characterized by Ford as a planned succession rather than a forced exit, though the company's underperformance during his tenure had fueled speculation about his future for some time before the announcement.

Board Memberships and Advisory Roles

Throughout his career, Hackett served on the boards of directors of several major corporations and institutions. In addition to his service on the Ford board prior to becoming CEO, he held board positions at other public companies and was involved in various advisory capacities related to design, innovation, and organizational strategy. His board service reflected his interests in the intersection of business management, design, and technology.

Personal Life

James Hackett has maintained a relatively private personal life throughout his career. He has lived in the Grand Rapids, Michigan, area for much of his adult life, reflecting his long association with Steelcase. He is known to have maintained strong ties to the University of Michigan, where he played football and later served as interim athletic director. Hackett has been involved in philanthropic activities, particularly in the areas of education, design, and community development in West Michigan. He is married, and his family has been based in the Grand Rapids area.

Recognition

Hackett received recognition throughout his career for his leadership in both the office furniture and automotive industries. During his tenure at Steelcase, he was recognized by various business publications and industry organizations for his management approach and the company's performance. His emphasis on design thinking as a management discipline brought him attention in business and design communities, and he was invited to speak at numerous conferences and events on the topic of organizational culture and innovation.

His appointment as CEO of Ford Motor Company was itself a notable recognition of his reputation as a strategic thinker, given that it represented a departure from the typical career path of automotive industry CEOs. His hiring of Jim Harbaugh as the University of Michigan football coach was also seen as a significant accomplishment that enhanced his public profile.

Legacy

James Hackett's legacy is most directly associated with two leadership tenures: his twenty-year stewardship of Steelcase and his three-year period as CEO of Ford Motor Company. At Steelcase, he is credited with transforming the company from a traditional furniture manufacturer into a design-oriented enterprise that focused on the relationship between physical environments and human productivity. His advocacy for design thinking as a management approach influenced how the company conducted research, developed products, and organized its workforce.

At Ford, Hackett's legacy is more complex. While his tenure was marked by disappointing stock performance and execution challenges, several of the strategic decisions he made—particularly the pivot away from sedans, the investment in electric vehicle platforms, and the early development work on the Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning—proved to be consequential for Ford's subsequent direction under his successor, Jim Farley. The electric vehicles that emerged from programs initiated or advanced during Hackett's tenure became central to Ford's competitive strategy in the early 2020s.

His career also illustrates a broader trend in American corporate governance: the selection of CEOs based on strategic and organizational capabilities rather than narrow industry experience. Hackett's move from office furniture to automotive manufacturing was unusual but reflected a belief among Ford's leadership that the challenges facing the company were as much about organizational culture and strategic vision as they were about automotive engineering.

Hackett's role as interim athletic director at the University of Michigan, and particularly his decision to hire Jim Harbaugh, added a distinctive chapter to his professional biography. Harbaugh went on to lead the Wolverines to a national championship in the 2023 season, a development that further burnished Hackett's reputation for talent identification and bold decision-making.