Former Ford CEO Alan Mulally joins Google’s Board of Directors

Former Ford CEO Alan Mulally has come out of retirement to join Google’s Board of Directors, according to this official blog post. Mulally will work with the tech giant’s Audit Comittee.

“Alan brings a wealth of proven business and technology leadership experience,” Google CEO Larry Page said. “I am so pleased that Alan is now joining Google’s board!”

Just a few months ago, Mulally was considered to be a strong candidate for Microsoft’s top job, which eventually went to Satya Nadella. Some felt that Microsoft could have benefitted from an injection of fresh blood and, considering Mulally’s lack of experience in the traditional tech world, an outsider’s perspective.

“I am honored to serve on the board of a global iconic company that is dedicated to enhancing our lives,” Mulally said. “I look forward to working together with the Google board and management team to continue to deliver their compelling vision.”

Considering that Google is making a big push towards the auto business, it’s possible that Google might have scooped up Mulally so that they could tap into the former Ford exec’s years of experience in the car business. However, one shouldn’t forget the time that the man spent in the airplane business with Boeing. Then there were his roles on the advisory boards of NASA and the U.S. Air Force.

After all, Google just acquired Titan Aerospace, a company that makes drones, this past April. So, perhaps this is a sign of things to come for Google.

Mulally retired from his position with Ford on July 1, and was appointed to his current role starting July 9, meaning that his departure from the working world lasted one whole week.