Hart Named to Run Ford Australia and New Zealand

Kay Hart is named president and CEO of Ford of Australia and New Zealand, succeeding Graeme Whickman, who led Ford Australia through the shutdown of local vehicle production.

Whickman spent his career at Ford in a variety of marketing and sales positions in the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific. He joined Ford in 1997 as a zone manager in Ford New Zealand after working for Coca-Cola in New Zealand and Hertz Rent A Car in the U.K.

Whickman says he is leaving a much stronger Ford Australia and New Zealand than only a few years ago. “The industry is undergoing rapid change, and I have confidence the local leadership teams have the right plans in place to be successful,” he says in a statement.

Hart, 40, started her career in the marketing team at Ford New Zealand in 1998. She will be based in Melbourne, reporting to Peter Fleet, Ford group vice president and president-Ford Asia Pacific.

In her new role, Hart will be responsible for Ford’s National Sales Co. in Australia and New Zealand, including marketing, sales and service, dealer relations, customer satisfaction and sales performance.

Most recently, Hart was the global battery-electric vehicle (BEV) manager-distribution and digital experience with Team Edison, which is focused mainly on rapidly designing and implementing new holistic customer-focused BEV services and ownership experiences.

During her time as Advanced Consumer Experience Marketing Manager, Hart led innovations such as FordPass, the company’s one-stop app designed to help consumers get the most out of their vehicle ownership.

Hart was managing director for Ford Philippines from 2013 to 2015.