DETROIT: Ford Motor Credit Company, the finance arm of the US motor
giant, is looking for a corporate communications director - a worldwide
role and the first of its kind within the company - to be based at its
headquarters in Dearborn, near Detroit.
Ford Credit is the largest automotive finance company in the world,
offering financial packages to vehicle-buyers in 36 countries. The
company’s decision to appoint a worldwide PR head follows a period of
rapid expansion for the company and comes at a time when it pushes for
further growth in Eastern Europe and South-East Asia.
Ford Credit declined to comment on the new global PR job but the company
is understood to have asked recruitment consultants in the US to conduct
the search.
Currently Ford Credit has a PR team of two based in Dearborn and one in
South-East Asia. PR manager David Nash handles European PR from the UK.
The only external agency the company uses in Europe is Shandwick
Germany. The new post is expected to report to PhilippePaillart, Ford
Credit’s recently appointed chief executive.
Ford Credit offers products and services including financing for new,
used and lease vehicles as well as wholesale financing, mortgages and
capital loans for vehicle dealers. It also sells insurance packages for
both dealers and retail customers. For dealers and customers outside the
Ford franchise, Ford Credit operates Primus Automotive Financial
Services which exists in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, India,
Indonesia, Thailand, Spain, Germany and Italy.
Ford Credit is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Ford Motor Company. Ford
Credit’s most recent financial results showed a profit of pounds 170
million for the third quarter of 1998, up five per cent from the same
period last year.
The firm provides financing for over 8.5 million customers and 11,200
automotive dealers.
