EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Ford Motor Co. has made a gift of $500,000 to Michigan State University's Eli Broad College of Business on behalf of Alex Trotman, its retiring chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer.
Ford has a unique gift program that provides financial support to selected colleges and universities on the occasion of the retirement of its chairman. Trotman is a 1972 graduate of The Eli Broad College of Business Executive MBA program located at the MSU Management Education Center in Troy.
"Ford Motor Company believes in supporting education at all levels," Trotman said. "As a graduate of Michigan State University, it gives me great pleasure that Ford's contribution will help enhance the benefits the university can provide its students in future years."
The gift will support the renovation of Marshall and Old Botany halls for the Department of Economics on the MSU campus. It also will name the faculty library and lounge in Old Botany in honor of Trotman and the Ford Motor Co.
The project will transform the two buildings into modern educational facilities, but the exteriors will be renovated and landscaped to maintain their original nineteenth century charm.
"We're honored that Mr. Trotman has chosen his alma mater for this special honor," said James B. Henry, dean of The Eli Broad College of Business. "We're extremely proud of the accomplishments Mr. Trotman has achieved in his career at Ford. He represents talented executives around the world who have used our executive MBA program as a springboard to successful careers in the global business environment."
Born in 1933 in England, Trotman was educated in Scotland before joining Ford in 1955 following service as a flying officer-navigator in Britain's Royal Air Force. At Ford Trotman served in several capacities including president of Ford Asia-Pacific, president of Ford of Europe, and president of Ford Automotive Group before being named chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer in 1993.