Glendale-based Johnson Controls Inc. has named William Jackson as executive vice president of the company’s newly created Corporate Development function.
Jackson will report to vice chairman Alex Molinaroli.
“The creation of the Corporate Development function reflects our expressed commitment to invest in platforms for future growth and increasingly diversify the company’s portfolio,” Molinaroli said. “Under Bill’s leadership, the team will lead strategy development and merger and acquisition activity, and work with our business units to drive execution plans to support achieving growth and margin objectives.”
Jackson, who joined Johnson Controls in 2011, will also retain responsibility as president of the Automotive Electronics and Interiors business.
Prior to joining Johnson Controls, Jackson worked for 20 years as a business consultant, ultimately serving as senior vice president and board member of Booz & Company. He led the firm’s Global Automotive, Transportation and Industrials Practice, where he worked with Johnson Controls on several acquisitions, including York International, Becker Group and the automotive battery business of VARTA AG.
Johnson Controls also announced it will unveil its first-generation, 48-volt Lithium-ion Micro Hybrid battery at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt, Germany.
Johnson Controls’ Micro Hybrid technology has the potential to provide up to 15 percent fuel savings in vehicles and is available for testing with key automotive customers this December.
Leveraging a dual voltage architecture, Johnson Controls’ Micro Hybrid battery system will involve a 12-volt starter battery and a 48-volt Lithium-ion battery that enables optimization of energy generation and consumption.
The 48-volt battery is designed with the capacity to quickly capture energy from braking and can support higher loads such as air-conditioning and active chassis technologies. The 12-volt battery will continue to provide power to the vehicle starter, interior and exterior lights, and entertainment systems such as radios and DVD players.
The prismatic Lithium-ion cells and complete systems for the Micro Hybrid battery prototypes will be made at Johnson Controls advanced manufacturing facility in Holland, Mich.
