The News Wheel
No Comments

Ford Chief Brand Officer, Ford Smart Mobility CEO Leaving Company

Decrease Font Size Increase Font Size Text Size Print This Page
Musa Tariq and Rajendra Rao

Musa Tariq and Raj Rao are both leaving Ford after brief tenures

If you live by the fickle sword of Silicon Valley, so too shall you be cut by it. Ford on Wednesday revealed that it has been slashed by that very blade, as it will lose both its chief brand officer and CEO of Ford Smart Mobility.

Musa Tariq, Ford’s current chief brand officer, and Ford Smart Mobility CEO Raj Rao are both leaving Ford, the automaker has announced. Tariq was named vice president and chief brand officer in January 2017 after serving as the global marketing and communication director for Apple’s Retail department. Rao has been the CEO of Ford Smart Mobility since September 2016 after being poached from Silicon Valley.


The Future of Ford: Patent filed for autonomous police vehicle


Said Ford CEO Jim Hackett of the departing Tariq: “Musa is a proven leader of brand transformation, having led similar work at some of the world’s most admired brands before coming to Ford, and he is a leader known for creativity and social media expertise. Over the last year, he has been helping to drive the same transformation at Ford. We are grateful for his service and will carry on the work he has started.”

Ford did not provide a reason for Tariq or Rao’s departures, nor did it formally announce Rao’s exit—it was originally reported by Detroit Free Press’ Phoebe Wall Howard. In response to the announcements, Ford spokesman Brad Carroll told Howard, “Like any organization, turnover is natural, and we continue to add significant numbers of outside talent today.”

Tariq will leave Ford effective the end of the week, and his duties will be assumed by newly-appointed Ford Chief Marketing Officer Joy Falotico. Rao will stay on with Ford until May 1st; it is not yet known who his successor will be.


Safety First: Three of Ford’s best pull down impressive safety ratings from NHTSA


News Source: Detroit Free Press

Next-Article-Button