New director for Ford NZ

Tom Newcomb has been appointed by Ford NZ as its new sales director and will start in the role in July. 

He has 20 years of consumer goods’ experience and joins the blue oval Ford from Lion NZ where he has spent the past 10 years in senior leadership positions, most recently as sales strategy and demand director. 

Before that, Newcomb, pictured, was with Colgate Palmolive in various roles. His experience in consumer goods includes commercial relationship and supply-chain management, and managing high-performance teams focused on end-to-end business planning, revenue management and strategic planning. 

“We’re looking forward to Tom bringing his skills and experience, but also a new perspective on the industry,” says Annaliese Atina, Ford NZ’s managing director. 

“The industry is amidst a significant transition with challenges and opportunities surfacing, and we are here to help our dealer network grow and continue to serve customers exceptionally. Having another view, or set of eyes, will help us to win in our highly competitive environment.” 

Newcomb adds: “It’s a fantastic opportunity to step into a new industry and have the backing of a global powerhouse brand like Ford.

“I’m looking forward to applying my experience, listening and learning, and working closely with dealerships and the team at Ford HQ to ensure we deliver strong results and meet Kiwis’ needs.” 

Newcomb lives on Auckland’s North Shore with his partner Antonia and three young boys. When not at work he enjoys anything to do with the water, especially surfing or being at the beach. He has fond childhood memories of travelling around with the family in his father’s bright red Falcon.