Michael Ford

Commander
DISC Type : D

Senior Vice President of Global Real Estate & Security at AT&T

Dallas, Texas, United States

Overview

Michael Ford is the SVP of Global Real Estate & Security at AT&T, managing a nearly 200 million square foot portfolio. With a background that includes 18 years at Microsoft and service as a Major in the U. S. Marine Corps, he has deep expertise in finance, corporate real estate, and strategic leadership. Colleagues describe him as a fair, direct, and highly effective leader.

Outside of work, Michael is a passionate advocate for his community and alma mater. He and his wife, Chala, are Torchbearers for Alabama A&M University’s 150th Anniversary Campaign. He serves on the boards of the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame and the Seattle Sports Commission, and enjoys coaching youth sports, photography, and traveling with his family.

Unique fact: Michael served as a Major in the United States Marine Corps, joining the Reserves while in college to help pay for his education.

Personality Overview

Strong-Willed

Decisive

Very Quick

They like to stay in control of the negotiation or defining of the terms.  They prefer to move quickly, and expect the same from others. They do not care very much about building rapport or relationships.

Topics They Care About

Workplace Modernization
He is focused on creating modern workspaces where employees can thrive and innovate, as seen with the new regional hub in Chantilly, Virginia.
Corporate Real Estate
As SVP at AT&T, he oversees a portfolio of nearly 200 million square feet, managing the entire real estate lifecycle from strategy to operations.
University Philanthropy
With his wife, Chala, he serves as a Torchbearer for Alabama A&M University’s 150th Anniversary fundraising campaign, demonstrating a strong commitment to his alma mater.

Media Appearances

AT&T Announces Structured Sale‑Leaseback of Real Estate to Development Firm Reign Capital. Featured in PR Newswire

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Plano City Council advances plans for AT&T global headquarters, officials say. Featured in WFAA (Local News)

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Real estate deal raises $850 million for AT&T's network transition. Featured in DIG.WATCH

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Work History

9-2023
Senior Vice President of Global Real Estate & Security at AT&T
5-2022 - 12-2023
Board Member at Seattle Sports Commission
5-2021
Member Board of Directors at Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame
8-2020 - 4-2022
Director Board Of Directors at DIRTT Environmental Solutions
11-2016 - 5-2023
CVP of Global Workplace Services at Microsoft

Education

1984 - 1988
BS from Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University
1997 - 1999
MBA from Florida Metropolitan University

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : 36 Location : Dallas, Texas, United States Job Level : Leadership Designation : Senior Vice President of Global Real Estate & Security at AT&T
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Insights For Selling To Michael

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • Refer to testimonials from well-known industry leaders
  • Be respectful but crisp
  • Speak about competitive differentiation that your product offers

DONT's

  • Avoid being too verbose
  • Don’t be in a rush to invite them for a social meet and greet
  • Do not hesitate from asking counter questions, just avoid challenging their authority

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with Michael is

  • Confidence in impact is paramount to them, followed by a sense of achievement and ROI.
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from Michael

  • If they decide not to go ahead, they will say no without hesitation.

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will Michael move?

  • If convinced, they can reach decisions quite fast.
  • Can Michael take some risk or not?

  • They do not shy away from taking risks, but can be quite binary about them.

You And Michael

Personality Compatibility


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