Pretoria: Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (Manufacturing) (Pty) Limited (“Ford South Africa”) has appointed award-winning strategic communications leader Dustin Chick as Communications Director, effective 1 March.
He joins Ford South Africa 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. He brings deep expertise in strategic reputation management and thought leadership.
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.
“We’re delighted to welcome Dustin to the Ford team at an exciting time for both the company and the automotive sector. Auto manufacturing continues to play a critical role in South Africa’s economic future, especially in terms of employment, investment in industrial capacity and overall economic and social contribution to the country. At Ford, we have been part of that journey for more than a century. So 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,” says Neale Hill, president, Ford Motor Company, Africa.
Chick joins Ford following six years as CEO of communications agency Razor, which under his leadership was launched in early 2020 ahead of the Covid-19 pandemic, and has gone on to become the most awarded PR agency in Africa.
“Joining Ford South Africa is a rare and compelling opportunity, particularly at a time when communications as a discipline continues to shift from being a ‘support function’ to one where it shapes an organisation’s ‘strategic leadership’. In an era defined by increased scrutiny, continued disruption and accelerated change, communications is no longer just peripheral, it is central to long-term trust, competitiveness and sustained shared prosperity with staff, communities and customers,” says Dustin Chick.
“Ford’s more than 100-year manufacturing legacy in South Africa, its role in industrialisation, and its reach into over 100 global export markets place it at the heart of our economic and social future. I’m excited about how our broader communications team can focus this impact even further,” he says.
Away from the fast pace of the communications sector, Dustin is a proud father of two teenagers, shares his home with two labradors, and enjoys travelling and cooking whenever time allows.
Bom Crossed
Wendy Luhabe\’s first step into entrepreneurship came in 1991 when she launched Bridging the Gap, a consulting firm that assists young black South Africans entering the working world. In 1993, she launched Women Investment Portfolio Holdings, the first fund to provide capital to women-owned businesses in South Africa. In 2002, she launched Africa\’s first Women-Focused Private Equity Fund. She also published her first book entitled: Defining Moments: Experiences of Black Executives in South Africa\’s Workplace. Luhabe launched her Foundation in 2002, to educate young disadvantaged black women, particularly from rural areas. In 2011, Luhabe was asked by Hillary Clinton to join the International Council on Women\’s Business Leadership (ICWBL). In 2014, she was appointed Member of the Board at The Abraaj Group, a global investment firm. In 2014, she was awarded Woman of Worth from the Jewish Achievers Awards in South Africa. In 2014, she was awarded the Lieutenant of the Victorian Order (LVO) by the British Royal Family. In 2015, she was awarded Lifetime Achievement Award at the Standard Bank Top Women Awards.