Speaker Information

Unpacking the Latest Political Developments: Insights and Analysis

Today’s political landscape is complex and confusing, with multiple pressing issues calling for our attention. In this session, Harold Ford, Jr., a former U.S. Congressman and PNC Bank Regional President New York, will join Rick Albin, political reporter for WOOD TV News 8, for a fireside conversation that is sure to spark interest in seasoned political observers and newcomers alike. Ford will offer his unique perspective of the intricate web of forces driving current events, and offer insights and expertise to shed light on recent policy changes and legislative developments.

About Harold Ford, Jr.

Harold Ford, Jr. is a former congressional representative and now serves as an executive vice president and regional president of PNC Bank, New York. In this role, Ford is responsible for new business development and deepening relationships with clients and community organizations. Prior to being named to his current role in February 2023, Ford served as vice chairman of Corporate & Institutional Banking (C&IB) for PNC Bank.

Before joining PNC in December 2020, Ford was a director of Live Oak Acquisition Corporation, a blank check company founded in 2020. He served in Congress for 10 years from 1997 to 2007 representing Tennessee’s 9th congressional district and was a member of the House Financial Services, Budget and Education Committees as well as the Congressional Black Caucus.

After serving in the House of Representatives, Ford spent four years as vice chairman and senior policy advisor of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, seven years at Morgan Stanley, where he was a managing director and senior client relationship manager, and is the former non-executive chairman of Rx Saver, a patient-directed prescription medication search engine platform. Ford has also taught public policy at Vanderbilt University and the University of Michigan.

Ford currently serves on the board of directors of the Lincoln Center, The POSSE Foundation and the River Fund New York.

Ford received a B.A. in American History from the University of Pennsylvania and a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School.

Ten Global Trends to Watch

The world is changing, fast. Whether it’s the upsurge in armed conflict, the redrawing of the global energy-resources map or rapid progress in artificial intelligence, things are moving at mind-boggling speed. From the situation in the Middle East to the adoption of electric vehicles to the treatment of obesity, things look very different from the way they did just a year or two ago. And 2024 could prove to be a pivotal year, as an unprecedented number of elections and a slowing Chinese economy intersect with growing geopolitical uncertainty. Tom Standage, deputy editor of The Economist and editor of its future-gazing annual, The World Ahead, outlines his ten global trends to watch, analyses what is going on, and considers where things might be going next.

About Tom Standage

Tom Standage is deputy editor of The Economist and editor of the yearly “The World Ahead..” series, formerly known as “The World In”. He is also responsible for the newspaper’s digital strategy and the development of new digital products, including Espresso and Economist Films. He joined The Economist as science correspondent in 1998 and was subsequently appointed technology editor, business editor and digital editor. He is the author of six history books, including “Writing on the Wall” (2013), “The Victorian Internet” (1998) and “A History of the World in 6 Glasses” (2005). He studied engineering and computing at Oxford University and has written for other publications including the New York Times, Daily Telegraph, Guardian and Wired, taking a particular interest in the internet’s cultural and historical significance.

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