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Honorary Doctor of Technology, 2011
Bio | Citation

Joe Greenwell CBE is a name synonymous with the UK automotive industry.

He has had a long and highly successful career in this increasingly high technology sector and is now helping strategically in a number of key roles to direct the future of the industry.

Since 2009, Joe has been Chairman of Ford of Britain and as such drives the relationships between the company and the government and other high profile external organisations.

Joe was President of the UK automotive industry's trade organisation, The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders for 2009 and 2010 and remains Deputy President. He is Chairman of BEN, the Motor and Allied Trades Benevolent fund and is also a member of the Government's Automotive Council. Prior to his appointment to these positions, Joe was Vice President of Government Affairs at Premier Automotive Group and at Ford of Europe, from 2005. In this role, his responsibilities included helping to develop and coordinate Ford Motor Company's strategy with Government and other official bodies in the European region.

Before this, Joe was Chairman and CEO of Jaguar and Land Rover where he was responsible for overseeing sales and production expansion at Land Rover and setting in train necessary structural changes at Jaguar. Prior to this he held Global Marketing and Operations positions at Ford's World Headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan, USA.

Joe's roles have spanned every area of motor manufacturing, production and technology as well as marketing, operations, communications and public affairs. The Ford Motor Company has its UK head office in Brentwood and its European Research and Development headquarters in Dunton. Ford is one of the biggest motor companies in the UK with several large plants where the company manufactures vehicles, engines and transmissions as well as parts and components. Ford has been the UK's top-selling car and commercial vehicle brand for over 30 years.

The Essex-based company has a long record of incorporating socially responsible policies into its core values and supporting staff to play an active role in their local communities.

It is this element of corporate social responsibility that introduced Joe to the Essex Community Foundation, the leading independent grant making trust in Essex. He became Vice President and ambassador of the foundation in 2010 which works to improve the quality of life for people living in Essex, Southend and Thurrock. Over 4000 grants totalling over £15 million have so far been awarded to social welfare projects run by grass roots charities and community groups to help create a richer society for all.

Joe is on many employer-led boards including Semta, the Sector Skills Council for Science, Engineering and Manufacturing which covers 130,000 businesses employing 1.7 million people in the UK. Semta works closely with Sector Strategy Groups to drive improvements in productivity by transforming skills.

He is also a member of the Climate Change Board of the Confederation of British Industry and is an Advisory Board Member of the Cranfield School of Management where he has lectured on the future of the automotive industry.

With a degree in English and American literature, Joe knows the value of higher education and training and through his most recent work is helping to encourage and motivate the business leaders of the future. His mantra is to work towards a greener and more sustainable agenda and to promote social tolerance and equal opportunities for all. He was awarded a CBE for services to the Automotive Industry in the recent Queen's Birthday Honours List.

Areas Of Interest: Technology, Business
Faculty: Science & Technology
Citation:

"Vice Chancellor, it is my pleasure to read the citation for Joe Greenwell CBE for the award of Doctor of Technology.

Joe Greenwell CBE is a name synonymous with the UK automotive industry.

He has had a long and highly successful career in this increasingly high technology sector and is now helping strategically in a number of key roles to direct the future of the industry.

Since 2009, Joe has been Chairman of Ford of Britain and as such drives the relationships between the company and the government and other high profile external organisations.

Joe was President of the UK automotive industry's trade organisation, The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders for 2009 and 2010 and remains Deputy President. He is Chairman of BEN, the Motor and Allied Trades Benevolent fund and is also a member of the Government's Automotive Council. Prior to his appointment to these positions, Joe was Vice President of Government Affairs at Premier Automotive Group and at Ford of Europe, from 2005. In this role, his responsibilities included helping to develop and coordinate Ford Motor Company's strategy with Government and other official bodies in the European region.

Before this, Joe was Chairman and CEO of Jaguar and Land Rover where he was responsible for overseeing sales and production expansion at Land Rover and setting in train necessary structural changes at Jaguar. Prior to this he held Global Marketing and Operations positions at Ford's World Headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan, USA.

Joe's roles have spanned every area of motor manufacturing, production and technology as well as marketing, operations, communications and public affairs. The Ford Motor Company has its UK head office in Brentwood and its European Research and Development headquarters in Dunton. Ford is one of the biggest motor companies in the UK with several large plants where the company manufactures vehicles, engines and transmissions as well as parts and components. Ford has been the UK's top-selling car and commercial vehicle brand for over 30 years.

The Essex-based company has a long record of incorporating socially responsible policies into its core values and supporting staff to play an active role in their local communities.

It is this element of corporate social responsibility that introduced Joe to the Essex Community Foundation, the leading independent grant making trust in Essex. He became Vice President and ambassador of the foundation in 2010 which works to improve the quality of life for people living in Essex, Southend and Thurrock. Over 4000 grants totalling over £15 million have so far been awarded to social welfare projects run by grass roots charities and community groups to help create a richer society for all.

Joe is on many employer-led boards including Semta, the Sector Skills Council for Science, Engineering and Manufacturing which covers 130,000 businesses employing 1.7 million people in the UK. Semta works closely with Sector Strategy Groups to drive improvements in productivity by transforming skills.

He is also a member of the Climate Change Board of the Confederation of British Industry and is an Advisory Board Member of the Cranfield School of Management where he has lectured on the future of the automotive industry.

With a degree in English and American literature, Joe knows the value of higher education and training and through his most recent work is helping to encourage and motivate the business leaders of the future. His mantra is to work towards a greener and more sustainable agenda and to promote social tolerance and equal opportunities for all. He was awarded a CBE for services to the Automotive Industry in the recent Queen's Birthday Honours List.

For his immense contribution to the UK automotive industry and to corporate social responsibility we honour him today.

Vice Chancellor, it is my pleasure to present Joe Greenwell CBE for the award of Doctor of Technology, honoris causa."

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