Andrew Birkic appointed President And CEO, Ford Australia and New Zealand, as Kay Hart takes on key Ford global role based in Europe.
Ford Motor Company announces the appointment of Andrew Birkic as President and CEO, Ford Australia and New Zealand, reporting to Mark Ovenden, President, Ford International Markets Group.
“Andrew is a highly experienced and engaging leader who brings a wealth of insights into the evolving needs of customers,” said Ovenden. “His passion for bringing vehicles to market that truly serve our customers, his breadth of understanding of the local market, and his global expertise will serve as a strong foundation for the continued progress of the business. I am delighted to welcome Andrew into this role.”
Customers have been at the centre of each of Birkic’s roles with Ford in Australia, Asia and the US over the past 26 years. As Chief Product Marketer, Ranger and Everest, Birkic represents the needs of global customers in key product decisions, ensuring the unique requirements of customers from each region are considered. He also has global responsibility to develop pricing, series and positioning strategies for future vehicles, working in close collaboration with the Product Development team based in Melbourne.
Prior to his current role, Birkic spent three years in Detroit as Global Advanced Consumer Experience Platforms Manager, and two and a half years in Shanghai as Director, Dealer Development and Consumer Experience for Ford Asia Pacific, working with dealers and Ford teams in each country to develop tools and strategies to better serve their customers was at the heart of both roles. Prior to this Birkic held a variety of leadership positions across marketing, sales and the Ford Customer Service Division at Ford Australia, where he began his career in 1994.
“I am thrilled to be re-joining the fantastic team in Australia and New Zealand,” said Birkic. “I know how passionate and accomplished the team is, having spent the past two years working with the Ranger and Everest development team to grow the brands across more than 180 markets. I look forward to working closely with our team and dealers to serve our customers.”
In this role, Birkic will be responsible for marketing, sales and service, dealer relations, and customer satisfaction in Australia and New Zealand. His appointment comes at an exciting time for Ford Australia and New Zealand, as the company prepares to launch the all-new Ford Puma and Escape SUVs, including the brand’s first electrified vehicle, the Escape Plug-in Hybrid.
Birkic succeeds Kay Hart, who is appointed to the global role of Enterprise Product Line Manager, Van and Bus. Ford’s Enterprise Product Line Management (EPLM) organisation comprises cross-functional teams that manage distinct product lines as end-to-end businesses and leverage Ford’s human-centred design, advanced product marketing and user experience teams to create breakthrough products and customer experiences. Hart has also been appointed a member of the Ford Otosan Board of Directors, and will be based out of Dunton, UK.