Thomas K. Brown

Thomas K. Brown has been an Independent Director at 3M Company since August 12, 2013.

He served as Group Vice President, Global Purchasing, Ford Motor Company, from April 1, 2008 to July 2013. He had been senior vice president for Global Purchasing since September 2004, and had been vice president for the same area since January 2002. In his role, Brown is responsible for approximately $90 billion of production and non-production procurement for Ford operations worldwide.

Before being named vice president, Mr. Brown was executive director, Manufacturing Procurement Operations Ford Global Purchasing.  Before his role as executive director, he was director, Ford Purchasing Global Strategic Planning and Process Leadership.

Mr. Brown joined Ford in July 1999 from United Technologies Automotive, where he was vice president of Supply Management.  Before joining United Technologies Automotive, he was executive director of corporate purchasing and transportation for QMS Inc., a maker and provider of networked enterprise printing solutions.

Mr. Brown is on the boards of the following public companies in addition to 3M: ConAgra Foods, Inc. and Tower International, Inc.

In 2008, Rainbow/PUSH honoured Brown with the "Keep Hope Alive" award, and in 2006, he received the National Action Network's "Keeper of the Dream" award. Mr. Brown serves as a board member on Business for Social Responsibility, and is active with The Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan, The Michigan First Tee, and Focus: HOPE.

Mr. Brown holds a bachelor's degree in economics and finance from American International College in Springfield, Mass.