John Ellis

John Ellis is a top technology and futurist keynote speaker, best-selling author, software expert, and former Head of the Ford Developer Program with Ford Motor Company. As the Global Technologist and Head of the Ford Developer Program, Ellis led teams responsible for several automotive industry innovations including SmartDeviceLink, the open-source version of Ford’s AppLink technology. His significant contributions to the field inspired his book "The Zero Dollar Car: How the Revolution in Big Data will Change Your Life," which has been recognized as a #1 Amazon Best Seller in the Auto Industry category. For the past 19 years, he has been the managing director of the industry consultant firm Ellis & Associates.

Ellis has also founded and served as the Managing Director of jte Consulting, a global management consulting firm that intersects transportation, consumer, connectivity, and software, providing unique insights and solutions to various clients. His career at Motorola saw him in key leadership roles where he was pivotal in developing, marketing, and selling mobile software and services, and leading their Open Source Software program. At Ford, his leadership extended beyond technology development to include fostering an environment of innovation, evident from hosting a software developer conference attended by developers globally and launching developer.ford.com, which has over 10,000 unique and global content providers committed to developing for AppLink/SmartDeviceLink.

During his time at Ford, Ellis also contributed to the design and development of a service delivery network that elevated the MyFordMobile product to award-winning status. Beyond his corporate roles, he has helped cities and organizations strategize on the integration of technology in urban environments, particularly focusing on the impacts on streets, sidewalks, and curbs. Ellis's academic contributions include serving as an adjunct professor at the University of Notre Dame, where he taught financial mathematics to Executive MBA students from 2002 to 2010. He also served as a translator during the 1992 Summer Olympics, showcasing his versatility and broad skill set.