Ford veteran lands top job down under

Ford has announced the appointment of Fadi Mawal as president and chief executive officer of Australia and New Zealand, effective from January 1, 2026. 

A 31-year veteran of the company, the blue oval says Mawal has a wealth of experience across finance, strategy and sales.

Mawal, pictured above, joined the company in the early 1990s as a forklift driver in a Ford parts and service warehouse in Melbourne. 

He then moved into the finance section where he spent 15 years before joining Ford’s Asia Pacific strategy team.

From 2016, Mawal spent four years as the chief financial officer (CFO) for Ford Australia and New Zealand and was then sales director from 2020 to 2022. 

In May 2022, he took up his most recent role as CFO for Ford International Markets Group based in Bangkok, where he oversaw financial planning, reporting and governance across a portfolio of markets that included

Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Africa and the Middle East.

Mawal’s latest promotion means he will replace Andrew Birkic, who spent five years at the helm of Ford’s Australia and New Zealand business.

Birkic, pictured below, will become vice-president, sales and service, Ford International Markets Group, and be responsible for driving the marque’s sales and service strategies across the region.

Jeff Marentic, president of Ford International Markets Group, says: “I am thrilled to welcome Fadi to the role of president and CEO, Australia and New Zealand.

“His breadth of experience in leadership roles across the business positions him exceptionally well for this new challenge. 

“I also want to acknowledge Andrew in his new expanded role and look forward to collaborating with both of them to drive strong results for Australia and the region.”