Ford South Africa announces appointment of new Communications Director

He joins Ford following an extensive career in reputation management and strategic communications, during which he has advised CEOs, large corporates, C-suite leaders, government ministers and community organisations on complex reputation and communications challenges.  

Chick most recently spent six years as CEO of communications agency Razor, which under his leadership was launched in early 2020 ahead of the Covid-19 pandemic. It has subsequently gone on to become among the most awarded PR agencies in Africa. 

Prior to that, he spent nine years at Ogilvy & Mather as Head of Strategy: Influence and Public Relations. He also spent three years as Strategy Director at MSL Johannesburg, and has worked as a journalist and in custom publishing. 

In a statement, Ford says Chick “brings deep expertise in strategic reputation management and thought leadership”. 

The statement continues: “Dustin will lead the communications function for Ford as the country’s longest-standing automotive manufacturer and will be responsible for the modernisation and execution of its communications strategy, with a strong focus on digital-first transformation and impactful storytelling.” 

Comments Neale Hill, President of Ford Motor Company, Africa: “As our industry evolves, communications has become increasingly strategic and critical. Dustin’s appointment strengthens our ability to engage with our staff, our customers, our dealers and our stakeholders in telling Ford’s story with clarity, credibility and purpose.”