John Garnetti, a seasoned international business professional with proven results in business development, strategy and marketing, has been hired to lead the Office of Business Engagement (OBE) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

                     New OBE Managing Director John Garnetti

As managing director, Garnetti will support and execute OBE’s strategic vision, lead and grow the team of engagement directors within OBE, expand existing and cultivate new business relationships across all UW schools and colleges, and drive mutually beneficial outcomes for all stakeholders. Garnetti will report to Christopher Kozina, assistant vice chancellor for industry engagement. He starts April 26.

“Driving more significant, mutually beneficial and sustainable relationships with the business community, while raising awareness of the university’s breadth and depth of resources are some of our key priorities.  We are excited that John’s global experience and reputation for building strong relationships will help us advance these goals,” said Christopher Kozina. “His background in business development, complex problem solving and multi-cultural relationship building will greatly benefit the Office of Business Engagement and UW–Madison.”

Garnetti brings a distinct set of skills to his new role at UW–Madison. Well versed in international business practices and fluent in Mandarin Chinese, his experience working with leaders in the private and public sectors will aid OBE in its goal of growing corporate engagement that spans sponsored research, professional development, corporate philanthropy and talent solutions.

“I feel truly honored to have been selected for such an impactful position at an institution as storied as UW-Madison,” said Garnetti. “I intend to set the bar high at OBE, working collaboratively with stakeholders across campus to ensure engagement with industry rises to a level of excellence on par with the university’s well-earned reputation as a global leader in higher education and research.”

Garnetti comes to UW–Madison from the Foxconn Technology Group and Aver Information, Inc. where he served as Director of Business Development and Manager of Product Marketing for the Education Division, respectively.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Florida before spending a nearly decade-long professional journey holding roles at multinational firms across East Asia. Garnetti most recently returned to the US in 2017, where he has primarily been focused on building multi-party relationships in business-to-business technology-related and manufacturing industries.


About the Office of Business Engagement

The Office of Business Engagement (OBE) serves as UW–Madison’s central campus liaison to business and industry partners, helping them connect with schools, colleges and other units on campus. By helping companies navigate student recruitment, research partnerships, philanthropic opportunities, executive education and technology transfer, OBE seeks to create shared value by fostering mutually beneficial relationships between industry and the university.