August 18, 2009

GIC Welcomes Ellen Hughes-Cromwick, Chief Economist, Ford Motor Company

“Deconstructing the BRICs: Dynamics in the Post Crisis Period”

Ellen Hughes-Cromwick joined Ford Motor Company in 1996. Her role as Chief Economist at Ford is to direct the corporate economics group with major responsibility for the company's global economic and automotive industry forecasts used to support business strategy, finance, and planning. She leads the group's effort on special industry studies and strategic issues that provide input into Ford’s evaluation of business risks and opportunities in global markets. Ms. Hughes-Cromwick serves on the company's Treasury Matters Committee, Global Risk Management Committee and advises the finance team on business issues relating to the global external environment for the automotive industry.

The Ford Motor Company is an American multinational corporation and the world's fourth largest automaker based on worldwide vehicle sales. Ford Motor Company was recognized as one of the top American corporations on DiversityInc's list of Top 50 Companies for Diversity. During the recent economic downturn, Ford Motor Company has remained resilient. While other automotive companies began to falter in the wake of the economic storm, Ford remained strong, and fought the economic crisis head-on. The decision to decline TARP money when other automotive companies accepted has helped Ford in gaining momentum and successfully increasing its market share.

Prior to joining Ford, Ms. Hughes-Cromwick was a senior economist at Mellon Bank from 1990 to 1996. Her major
responsibilities included the monthly U.S. macroeconomic forecast, credit markets outlook, and industry analysis. She began doing research on emerging markets for Mellon’s clients and for its trade finance business in 1994, focusing on selected Latin and Asian markets as well as South Africa. Before her experience at Mellon, Ms. Hughes-Cromwick was assistant professor of economics at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. She also served for two years as a staff economist on the President's Council of Economic Advisers during the Reagan Administration. Ms. Hughes-Cromwick received her Bachelor's Degree in Government and French Language at the University of Notre Dame, a Master's Degree in International Development and a Ph.D. in Economics at Clark University in Massachusetts.