Today, Bill Ford, executive chairman of Ford Motor Company, endorsed Rick Snyder in his campaign for Governor of Michigan. Bill Ford will serve as senior counselor to the campaign. The announcement was made this morning as Bill Ford joined Rick Snyder on a joint appearance on The Paul W. Smith Show on 760 WJR.

Bill Ford, great-grandson of Henry Ford, has worked closely with Rick Snyder on the board of The Henry Ford. He cited Rick’s vision and proven economic development credentials as qualities that make him the best candidate to lead Michigan out of this economic crisis.

“Michigan is in one of the most troubling economic times in our state’s history and we’ve fallen behind the rest of the nation in too many areas.  There is no one better suited to lead Michigan out of today’s economic disaster and into an era of innovation than Rick Snyder,” said Ford.  “As Rick’s friend and supporter, I know he is the kind of visionary leader who will provide the long-term solutions and real results that we need from our next Governor. I am excited to endorse his candidacy and energized by the fresh approach he brings to politics and to the state.”

Bill Ford highlighted Rick Snyder’s management experience at Gateway Computers, where he led it from a privately-held $600 million company with less than 1,000 employees to a publicly-traded Fortune 500 company with revenues in excess of $6 billion and over 10,000 employees. Ford also recognized that Rick’s success as an entrepreneur who took innovative ideas and turned them into flourishing startups makes him uniquely prepared to make reforms in state government a reality.

“There’s no question that he has the management skills and track record to make the tough decisions necessary to overcome our state’s fiscal challenges and balance the budget,” said Ford. “On top of that, he brings the new ideas and bold vision that will reinvent our state, help transform our economy and make Michigan a global leader again ”

Rick Snyder thanked Bill Ford for his endorsement and welcomed him to the campaign. “I’m grateful for Bill’s support and am proud to have him as a senior counselor to the Reinvent Michigan Team,” said Snyder. “Bill has been a tremendous leader in the automotive industry and with his help, I’m confident Michigan will continue to be the automotive capital of the world.  I know that he shares my passion for creating a better future in Michigan and I’m delighted that he’s going to help us reinvent Michigan and ignite an era of innovation in our state.  We all need to work together to begin an era in which we will be able to create new jobs with a diverse business base that offers increasing prosperity, enjoy a great quality of life, and keep our youth in Michigan.”

Listen to the announcement here.