Mazda appoints Ford marketer to md after distribution shake-up

Mazda has regained control of its distribution in the UK and has brought in senior Ford marketer to be the company’s new managing director.

James Muir starts at Mazda on August 1, and will appoint a marketing director immediately.

Mazda was distributed and marketed in the UK by the MCL Group, headed by chairman David Heslop. Muir’s appointment leaves Timothy Tozer, managing director for Mazda at MCL, without a job.

A spokesman for Mazda says the company, which is 33 per cent owned by Ford, is now likely to increase its &£12m advertising spend “significantly”. J Walter Thompson handles the advertising business across Europe, including the UK.

He adds: “The company will now have a more formal set-up and will be announcing a new sales director and a new marketing director shortly.”

The company has not had a marketing director in the UK for three years, since Chris Owens left the company. The company had relied on various marketing managers and consultants to fill the role.

Muir moves across from Ford where he has worked in a number of sales and marketing roles for 15 years. His most recent role was marketing and programmes communication manager for Ford of Europe. He will now be based at Mazda’s new UK headquarters near Dartford in Kent.

The move follows similar ones by Mazda in France, Spain and Italy last year.