DEARBORN, Mich. -

Ford confirmed Jim Farley, the automaker’s group vice president for global marketing, sales and service, will deliver a keynote address at this year’s BlogWorld & New Media Expo in Los Angeles, becoming the first auto industry executive to address this event.

The OEM highlighted Farley will talk about how Ford is adopting more authentic and progressive approaches to marketing by literally putting its brand in the hands of customers through the use of digital and social media experiences.

Farley intends to explain how increased emphasis on digital and social media can allow brands such as Ford to have unprecedented access to individual consumers around the world and to hear from them about their likes and dislikes.

Furthermore, Farley plans to give attendees a closer look at a new feature launching soon on the all-new Ford Escape which will be revealed in mid-November at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

In addition, he will reveal and kick off Ford’s latest experiential digital and social media campaign live from BlogWorld & New Media Expo.

“People today have a very different relationship with brands,” Farley stressed.

“The days of companies like Ford just talking at customers are over,” he continued. “As consumers, we want to do business with brands we can relate to and interact with. We want authentic experiences to share with family and friends, and above all, we have a desire to be heard.”

BlogWorld & New Media Expo is the first, largest and only industry-wide social media event dedicated to promoting the dynamic industry of new media.

The conference runs from Nov. 3–5 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Farley will deliver his keynote presentation on Nov. 4 at 5 p.m. PST.

Ford reiterated it has been recognized as an industry leader in digital marketing and social media, and this year marks the company’s third time as a sponsor at BlogWorld & New Media Expo.

Through innovative campaigns such as the Fiesta Movement, in which 100 digital influencers were given Ford Fiestas for six months, and the live reveal of the new Explorer on Facebook, company leadership insisted it has continuously evolved its marketing and communications programs to meet changing customer needs and trends.

“We are thrilled to have Jim keynoting at BlogWorld & New Media Expo this year,” stated Rick Calvert, BlogWorld chief executive officer and co-founder.

“Ford is continually experimenting and searching for new ways to provide value for its customers and humanizing its brand with social media,” Calvert continued. “Being one of the largest companies in the world it is extremely interesting for our community to hear the lessons Ford has learned and how its social media strategy continues to evolve.”