Chief Marketing Officer Suzy Deering Abruptly Flees Ford Blue

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Global Chief Marketing Officer Suzy Deering Abruptly Flees Ford Blue

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Ford Motor announced today that Suzy Deering is departing the company effective 9 Dec. It was an abrupt exit for Deering who has served as Ford’s global chief marketing officer for not quite two years, overseeing brand communication, e-commerce and digital strategy, as well as the go-to-market strategy for Ford Blue while supporting the future vision of Model e. Deering made the announcement on Wednesday on Linked In, likely prompting the Ford response. (AutoInformed.com: Ford Motor Structure Threatens Viability. Vast Reorg Coming)

Let the media speculation begin. However, as we have noted Ford Blue – the old internal combustion engine business that is being phased out is not the future of Ford Motor. Neither now is it the future of Ms. Deering.

When Ford moved Deering to Ford Blue two years ago it said, “In this role, Suzy will continue to oversee e-commerce and digital strategy, as well as go-to-market for Ford Blue while supporting the forward vision for Ford Model e. AutoInformed notes “while supporting the forward vision for Ford Model e,” since as in comedy, timing is everything. Supporting a business that will eliminate your job? (sounds of laughter). No matter – we have no direct insight here as to why Ms Deering is gone so abruptly.

On 24 November 2020 Ford said, “ Ford is hiring a dedicated head of Global Marketing to help execute its plan to unlock customer and company value, and its senior product quality and new-vehicle launch executive will soon close her exceptional career with the company.

Suzy Deering will join Ford as global chief marketing officer on Jan. 4 (2021), following five-plus years as worldwide and North America CMO at eBay. Deering will succeed Joy Falotico as Ford CMO. The company previously announced that Falotico will be dedicated solely to her role as president of the Lincoln Motor Company, Ford’s rapidly growing and strategically important luxury vehicle brand. She has been managing both areas for the past three years.

Suzy Deering Bio as Published by Ford

Deering is accomplished at using technology, data and analytics to anticipate customer needs and fulfill them with human-centered products and services.  At Ford, she will be the global leader for modernizing marketing, driving brand strategy and best practices, and developing marketing talent.  Additionally, she will run all marketing operations in North America, which accounts for more than 70 percent of Ford’s automotive revenue, including customer intelligence and product and consumer marketing.

“We’re putting more decision-making in the hands of our people who are closest to customers,” said Kumar Galhotra, president, Ford Americas and International Markets Group, to whom Deering will report.  “That makes marketing more important than ever and Suzy’s world-class background will be vital to modernizing our approach, dialing-up our understanding of customer ambitions and redefining our brands to help us grow.”

“Technology will be a powerful part of Ford’s transformation and how we enhance and release the huge value of our iconic brands,” said Deering.  “My team will be involved from end-to-end on behalf of customers – better connecting with them, using data to foresee and deliver what they need, and earning and keeping their trust.”

At eBay, Deering helped revive the global e-commerce company’s brand and enable a sharp increase in revenue over the past two years.  Earlier, she was CEO of Moxie, a technology-led marketing agency, and spent 13 years at Verizon Wireless, the last two as executive director of Media, Engagements and Integrations.  Deering holds a bachelor’s degree in Advertising from the University of Georgia.

Today, 7 December 2022 Ford said, “We thank Suzy for her contributions to Ford and wish her all the best in the future,” said Kumar Galhotra, president, Ford Blue. Ford said Deering’s successor would be the subject of a future announcement.

In AutoInformed’s view odds are there will be other senior executive or lower-ranked departures to follow.

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