Senior Manager of Government Affairs

DENSO

John Kerr is a senior manager of Government Affairs at DEN SO’s North American headquarters in Southfield, Michigan.

In this role, which he’s held since January 2020, Kerr manages DENSO political affairs and relationships with government officials at local, state and federal levels. He also identifies win win opportunities for government and DENSO to collaboratively invest in communities the mobility supplier calls home, and oversees legislative activities in these key areas: energy and environment, workforce development, mobility and technology, economic development and incentives.

Before DENSO, Kerr was a senior associate at Hickey & Associates, a site selection consultancy, from 2014 2019. In this position, he led and coordinated projects through their entire life cycle , for which he leveraged key relationships with government officials, community leaders and real estate executives. H e also helped procure economic development tax credits, incentives, grants and loans for Fortune 500 clients through negotiation with all levels of government, and managed site selection efforts , including research and comparison of sites nationally and abroad.

From 2013 2014, Kerr was vice president of economic development and local development at Strategic Communication Solutions, a public relations and government relations firm. From 1998 2013, he took on roles of increasing responsibility at the Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority, leaving as director of economic development and grants management.

Kerr earned a bachelor’s degree in urban and regional planning from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan.