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President of Ford’s Middle East and Africa, Jacques Brent, Thursday, visited Nigeria for the first time.
Brent, who was in Lagos for the media launch of the 2016 Ford Edge, was accompanied on the trip by top Ford Africa officials, including Rob Johnston, Regional Manager – Sales, Marketing, Parts and Service – Sub Saharan Africa at Ford Motor Company and Rella Bernardes, Communication Manager, Ford Sub Sahara Africa.
The media launch was hosted by Coscharis Motors, sole distributors of Ford vehicles in Nigeria, with the President/CEO, Coscharis Group, Dr. Cosmas Maduka, leading other directors and managers of the company to the event.
Brent assured that despite the economic challenges facing Nigeria, “Ford is here to stay. ”
Brent, who assumed his position on July 1, 2016, leads Ford’s operations in the 67 markets which comprise MEA, the company’s newest business unit, and the final frontier of global automotive growth.
He joined Ford in 1995 in his home country of South Africa, and with multiple global assignments spanning three continents he has vast experience in setting up and developing sales and operations in new and emerging markets. His career has included leadership roles within markets and across various brands and in finance, marketing, sales and general management.
Brent joined MEA from his second assignment in Shanghai as vice president of marketing, Asia Pacific. The role covered the 12 major markets and also included many smaller ones. In this role Jacques’ regional responsibilities covered consumer, product and retail marketing, in addition to market research and marketing strategy.
Prior to that, he was vice president marketing, Asia Pacific, group marketing manager, large cars and SUV’s based at Ford Headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan. In this role Jacques worked closely with the car and utility lines that form a large portion of the Ford business in the United States. Jacques’s remit included both the current portfolio of performance vehicles and development of future performance products.
In 2010, Jacques left his role as Vice President of Marketing, Sales and Service for Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa and moved to Ford’s Shanghai office to become the Executive Marketing Director in the Asia Pacific and Africa office.
Jacques comes from a family of Ford employees. Brent’s his father worked for Ford for 38 years, beginning in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, from where his family hails.
Jacques reports to Jim Farley, executive vice president and president, Europe Middle East and Africa, Ford Motor Company.
