We’re excited to announce the appointment of Tom Newcomb as the new Sales Director at Ford New Zealand, a key leadership hire set to drive the brand’s growth and strategic direction in a rapidly evolving industry.
Annaliese Atina, Managing Director of Ford New Zealand, worked closely with our Executive Search Lead Cameron King on the role, and said;
“Ford NZ has partnered with Cameron & the broader Tribe team on several placements, more recently the very exciting appointment of Tom Newcomb as Sales Director. Tribe have always worked hard to demonstrate a clear understanding of our business, all the way to what drives our company culture, enabling them to identify the best candidates that align to our requirements. We value the level of clear and candid communication; it’s been invaluable to the relationship and helped us find excellent candidates such as Tom who are taking their next career steps with us and ambitious to be part of delivering on our company objectives.”
With 20 years of experience across the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector, Tom brings a wealth of commercial insight and leadership expertise to Ford New Zealand. He joins the team in June after a decade with Lion New Zealand, where he held several senior leadership roles, most recently as Sales Strategy and Demand Director. Throughout his career, Tom has built a strong reputation for managing high-performing teams and driving end-to-end business planning, revenue growth, and strategic commercial partnerships.
Reflecting on the recruitment process, Tom said;
“Cam was able to connect me to a brilliant opportunity through his extensive network. He clearly communicated the role requirements which helped greatly with my preparation, and the communication throughout was always excellent. I would highly recommend. Thank you, Cam and Tribe.”
As Sales Director, Tom will be responsible for leading Ford New Zealand’s sales team and dealer network strategy, with a focus on performance, partnership, and customer satisfaction.
“We’re looking forward to Tom joining the team, bringing his skills and experience but also a new perspective on the industry,” says Annaliese Atina. “The industry is amidst a significant transition with new challenges and opportunities surfacing, and we are here to help our dealer network win and grow and continue to serve our customers exceptionally. Having another view or set of eyes will help us to win in our highly competitive environment.”
Tom shares that he’s energised by the opportunity to enter a new industry with the backing of a globally recognised brand.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity to step into a new industry and have the backing of a global powerhouse brand like Ford,” he says. “I’m looking forward to applying my experience, listening, learning, and working closely with the dealerships and the team at Ford HQ to ensure we deliver strong results and meet the needs of Kiwi motorists.”
Based on Auckland’s North Shore, Tom lives with his partner Antonia and their three young boys. Outside of work, you’ll often find him in or around the water, surfing, swimming, or simply enjoying time at the beach with his family. A Ford enthusiast from early on, he recalls fond memories of travelling as a child in his dad’s bright red Ford Falcon, a car that helped spark a lifelong connection to the brand.
Congratulations to Tom on this exciting new chapter, we look forward to seeing the fresh perspective and commercial strength he brings to Ford New Zealand.
