Chrysler Group CEO, Ohio chancellor to address graduates May 8

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The CEO of Chrysler Group and the Ohio Board of Regents chancellor will speak at The University of Toledo’s commencement ceremonies Sunday, May 8.

Sergio Marchionne, who was named chief executive officer of Chrysler Group LLC in June 2009 and maintains his role as chief executive officer of Fiat SpA, will address graduates of the colleges of Business and Innovation, Engineering, and Arts and Sciences at 9:30 a.m. in Savage Arena on the University’s Main Campus.

Jim Petro, who was appointed chancellor March 14 by Ohio Gov. John Kasich, will speak to graduates of the colleges of Education, Nursing, Health Science and Human Service, and the University College Degree Programs in the College of Adult and Lifelong Learning at 2 p.m.

Marchionne will receive an honorary doctor of business administration degree during the ceremony, which will be webcast live here. Petro received an honorary doctorate from the University in 2000.

There are 2,676 candidates for degrees, including 787 candidates for doctoral, education specialist and master’s degrees, and 1,889 for bachelor’s and associate’s degrees.

“We are honored to have Sergio Marchionne and Jim Petro address our graduates,” UT President Lloyd Jacobs said. “Mr. Marchionne has a passionate work ethic and impressive track record for turning companies around that certainly will inspire our students as they embark upon their careers. And Chancellor Petro’s dedicated service to the state of Ohio sets a positive example for our students that will encourage them to become productive citizens of their communities.”

Marchionne is a barrister, solicitor and chartered accountant. His accomplished career in the legal and accounting fields began as an accountant and tax specialist with Deloitte & Touche. He went on to hold many positions of increasing responsibility, including executive vice president of Glenex Industries, vice president of finance and chief financial officer of Acklands Ltd., and vice president of legal and corporate development and chief financial officer of Lawson Group.

In addition to Chrysler and Fiat, he has held the position of chief executive officer with SGS Group of Geneva, Lonza Group Ltd., and Algroup. He recently was named to Time magazine’s annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Marchionne received a bachelor of laws degree from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University in Toronto and a master of business administration degree from the University of Windsor in Ontario.

Petro leads the University System of Ohio, which is one of the largest comprehensive systems of public higher education in the nation.

He served as Ohio auditor from 1995 to 2002, providing financial and performance oversight to the universities and other state agencies, and was later elected Ohio attorney general, an office he held from 2003 to 2006. His work there included that of chief legal officer to the state’s universities.

Petro has spent a total of 28 years as an elected officeholder, also serving as state representative, Cuyahoga County commissioner and Rocky River city councilman.

He received his law degree from Case Western Reserve University and a bachelor’s degree in history from Denison University.