Mazda appoints global marketer
Mazda Motor Corporation has promoted its European sales director, Nigel Brackenbury, to general manager of global marketing at its Hiroshima headquarters, after a marketing rejig.
British-born Brackenbury will have overall responsibility for the marque’s global marketing. He will report to Stephen Odell, who was promoted to senior managing executive officer in charge of sales, marketing and customer service. As marketing chief for Mazda North America, Odell was involved in the creation of the “Zoom, zoom, zoom” strapline that has since been extended to Mazda’s advertising worldwide.
Brackenbury oversaw the implementation of Mazda’s policy of taking back control of the distribution of its cars in Austria, Demark, France, Italy, Switzerland and the UK. He had previously worked as advertising manager for Ford of Britain.
A restructure at Mazda Motor Europe has resulted in Masahiro Moro being appointed to the new post of vice-president, selected markets and retail management, at the company’s headquarters in Leverkusen, Germany. Moro joins from the Japanese head office, where he had worked in a variety of sales and marketing positions since 1983.
Ford Motor Company has a 35 per cent stake in Mazda. Mazda has rejuvenated its model range, which includes the new RX-8 sports car, and has seen sales increase over the last year by 36 per cent in the UK and by 32 per across Europe.
