Spotlight on Lewis Booth
Lewis Booth (BEng Mechanical Engineering 1970) is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Ford Motor Company, a position he has held since November 2008.
Based in Deaborn, Michigan, he has overall responsibility for the company's financial operations, including the Controller's Office, Treasury and Investor Relations. Lewis is a qualified chartered management accountant and is married with two children. He was born in Lancashire and has worked around the world for Ford.
Lewis is a Director of the new Foundation.
Q: What do you remember most about your student days in Liverpool?
A:It was a long time ago, but I remember the intense schedule I had as an Engineering student and the access to great facilities. In the late 1960s, Liverpool still seemed like the centre of the music world. The best thing for me was the course material and the wide variety of people we mixed with in the Halls of Residence.
Why did you decide to become a Director of Liverpool in America Inc.?
A:I enjoyed my studies and student life at Liverpool and appreciate the opportunities that my experience at the University opened up to me. In becoming a Director of University of Liverpool in America Inc., I hope to encourage more US-based alumni to keep in touch with the University and play a growing part in supporting the next generation of Liverpool students.
I am also extremely impressed by the progress the University has made in establishing itself as a global university. The US Foundation will play an increasingly important role as the University continues to develop links with partner organisations in the USA, and I'm delighted to be a part of this.
Q:How important do you think it is for alumni to give back to their University?
A:I was extremely privileged that, when I was a student, funding was not the issue that it is for students today. I am a strong believer in giving something back to help current generations of students for whom funding is a real issue. I consider it an important responsibility to help enable students to enjoy the same experience that I benefitted from during my time at University.
When you live in the US, the concept of giving back to your schooling establishments is much more common than in the UK. I'm hoping that the US Trust can be a good model for all alumni to contribute to the future of students at Liverpool.
Q:Have you been back to Liverpool recently?
A:I returned to campus in 2007 to give a talk to a group of MBA students in the Management School. It was my first time back on campus for 25 years. In addition to giving a talk, I also learned about the Liverpool Engineer project and toured the new Active Learning Lab in my old faculty, the Department of Engineering. I was truly impressed with the developments not only taking place in Engineering, but also around the whole campus- there have certainly been a number of changes since I was a student. If any US alumni find themselves in the UK again, I would strongly encourage a trip back up to Liverpool!
Q:What advice would you give to a US student who is thinking about studying at Liverpool?
A:Go and take a look and talk to the Faculty. An experience away from your own country will not only provide you with a great education, but will be a start in equipping you for the global environment in which many of us operate.