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American Brad Brownell is leaving Ford Australia to return home as Ford’s general manager-East Market Region effective Sept. 1.

Ford Australia President and CEO Bob Graziano says Brownell has been instrumental in establishing new customer-relationship processes and working closely with dealers to improve the Ford brand.

Brownell’s role as Ford Australia vice president-marketing, sales and service, will be taken by Graeme Whickman. Whickman previously served as vice president-marketing at Ford Canada, where he headed all marketing efforts, including product marketing, digital, sponsorship, experiential marketing and marketing communications.

In Australia, he will lead the auto maker’s marketing, sales and service operations, including responsibility for revitalizing the Ford brand and customer experience.

Before his assignments in Canada, Whickman was executive director-marketing in the Asia-Pacific and Africa regions, leading innovative marketing initiatives in both mature and emerging markets such as Africa, China, Thailand and the U.K.

Whickman joined Ford in 1997 as marketing manager-New Zealand.