Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa has appointed Dustin Chick as communications director. He will take on the role from March 1.
Chick joins Ford from Razor Public Relations, marking his first in-house role after an agency-led career. He founded Razor in 2020 as a standalone PR offering within M&C Saatchi Group South Africa and led the agency to become one of the most awarded PR firms in Africa. Razor was named among PRovoke Media’s 10 Best Agencies in Africa in 2025, and Chick announced his departure from the agency last week.
Over his career, Chick has advised CEOs, corporates, C-suite leaders, government ministers and community organisations on reputation management and strategic communications. Before launching Razor, he spent nine years as head of strategy at Ogilvy South Africa and earlier served as strategy director at MSL Johannesburg.
At Ford, Chick succeeds Minish Bhagaloo, who spent 11 years in the company’s communications function and has moved to the Automobile Association of South Africa as head of public relations and advocacy.
In his new role, Chick will lead communications for Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa, including the modernisation of its communications strategy with a focus on digital transformation and storytelling. He will report to Sinead Phipps, communications director for international markets, and locally to Neale Hill, president of Ford Motor Company Africa.
Neale Hill said the appointment strengthens Ford’s ability to engage employees, customers, dealers and stakeholders as communications becomes increasingly strategic within the automotive sector. Chick said joining Ford presents an opportunity to contribute to an organisation where communications plays a central role in long-term trust, competitiveness and engagement.
