University of Wisconsin hires former Foxconn exec to expand partnerships
MADISON, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-Madison has hired a former Foxconn Technology Group official to lead its efforts to build and expand partnerships with companies looking to engage with school.
Foxconn's former deputy director of U.S. strategic initiatives, John Garnetti, will direct the university’s Office of Business Engagement.
Garnetti hiring comes about halfway through a five-year agreement between the university and the Taiwanese technology company that critics say has fallen far short of expectations.
In 2018, Foxconn committed $100 million to help fund a new UW-Madison engineering building and company-related research. Records show the university received just $700,000 in the first two years of the deal.
UW-Madison spokesman John Lucas said the university had no update on the company’s financial commitments beyond the $700,000 received so far.
FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX6 News app for iOS or Android
Lucas said Garnetti wasn’t hired to specifically address the relationship with any single company, the State Journal reported. The hiring decision had no connection to Foxconn or any of his other previous employers, officials said.
In making the hiring announcement, the university said Garnetti is "well-versed in international business practices and fluent in Mandarin Chinese" and has experience working with leaders in both the private and public sectors.
Featured
UW Health: Vaccinating kids critical to fighting COVID-19 pandemic
UW Health officials say making sure younger children are eventually vaccinated against COVID-19 is an important part of ending the pandemic.
Featured
Google Earth adds time-lapse video to depict climate change
The Google Earth app is adding a new video feature that draws upon nearly four decades of satellite imagery to vividly illustrate how climate change has affected the world.
Longtime Milwaukee rec worker serves as mentor, role model to youth
For 54 years, Max Walker has used his perspective to motivate and connect with countless Milwaukee youth.