DEARBORN, Mich.—Ford Motor Company today announces the hiring of leading brand expert Musa Tariq as vice president and chief brand officer as part of its expansion to an auto and a mobility company and its drive to go further in connecting and engaging with today’s consumers.
Tariq, 34, is elected a Ford Motor Company officer and begins work Jan. 30.
In this new role, Tariq is responsible for further building and differentiating the company’s Ford brand, one of the most valued in the world. He will work with Marketing, Communications and company leaders across the world to define, build and communicate the Ford primary brand and what it stands for with all stakeholders. His work will complement the successful vehicle nameplate brand marketing and communications work already in place.
“As we grow our business, we’re also expanding our focus on and investment in building and differentiating our iconic Ford brand, which is known, loved and trusted around the world,” said Mark Fields, Ford president and CEO. “Our opportunity is to connect with even more consumers and stakeholders – some who never have done business with Ford before – through compelling and culturally relevant marketing and communications. Musa has led transformational work at some of the world’s most admired brands, and he is a leader known for challenging convention. We’re excited for him to bring his expertise, knowledge and passion to Ford.”
Tariq will report jointly to Stephen Odell, Ford executive vice president, Global Marketing, Sales and Service, and to Ray Day, Ford group vice president, Communications.
Prior to joining Ford, Tariq was Apple’s Global Marketing and Communication director for Retail. In this role, he launched several initiatives that enhanced the retail experience in more than 490 Apple stores and for more than 65,000 Apple Retail employees around the world.
Prior to Apple, Tariq was the senior director of Social Media and Community at Nike, as well as the global head of Digital Marketing and later the first-ever director of Social Media at Burberry.
Tariq started his career in marketing and advertising, serving in leadership roles at JWT and Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising.
Jan 24, 2017
Musa Tariq
vice president and chief brand officer, Ford Motor Company
Musa Tariq is vice president and chief brand officer, Ford Motor Company, a position to which he was appointed Jan. 30, 2017.
In this role, Tariq is responsible for further building and differentiating the company’s Ford brand, one of the most valued in the world. He is working with Marketing, Communications and company leaders across the world to define, build and communicate the Ford primary brand and what it stands for with all stakeholders.
Tariq reports jointly to Stephen Odell, Ford executive vice president, Global Marketing, Sales and Service, and to Ray Day, Ford group vice president, Communications.
Prior to joining Ford, Tariq was Apple’s Global Marketing and Communication director for Retail. In this role, he focused initially on the company’s strategy for in-store digital experiences, launching several initiatives that enhanced the retail experience in more than 490 stores around the world. Most recently, Tariq built an in-house creative team and new platform, driving a cultural shift in communication to engage and inspire 65,000 Apple Retail employees globally and helping to launch the new store design and latest evolution of Apple Retail.
Prior to Apple, Tariq was the first senior director of Social Media and Community at Nike, responsible for the company’s Social Media strategy and the teams managing more than 500 Nike social media accounts globally. During his time at Nike, Tariq was an internal change agent, driving the organization forward in digital and social innovation. This included building relationships with more than 300 million athletes through strategic social media campaigns, partnerships and one-on-one conversations. He also helped to create the first social-led Nike Football World Cup campaign, one of the most successful Nike campaigns of all time.
Before Nike, Tariq served as global head of Digital Marketing and as the first-ever director of Social Media at Burberry. He helped to turn the iconic 150-year-old brand into a digital pioneer, building the largest brand community in fashion with a series of industry and social media firsts. Under Tariq’s digital leadership, Burberry was the first brand to livestream its runway show and sell immediately direct to consumers online, a model that has now been widely adopted across the fashion industry. Tariq also launched Art of the Trench, the first social user-generated-content platform in the luxury category, which continues to be a core pillar for the brand today.
Tariq started his career in marketing and advertising serving in leadership roles JWT and Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising.
Born in 1982, Tariq has a bachelor’s degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science in the United Kingdom. He is moving to Detroit with his fiancé, Liz.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is a global automotive and mobility company based in Dearborn, Michigan. With about 203,000 employees and 62 plants worldwide, the company’s core business includes designing, manufacturing, marketing and servicing a full line of Ford cars, trucks and SUVs, as well as Lincoln luxury vehicles. To expand its business model, Ford is aggressively pursuing emerging opportunities with investments in electrification, autonomy and mobility. Ford provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products and services, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.
