Cheers: Scott McGregor brings high-level marketing experience to Honda after working for Ford and Carlton and United Breweries.

HONDA Australia has announced the appointment of former Ford executive Scott McGregor as its new general manager of customer and communications.

Replacing Jason Miller who earlier this year moved to Carsales.com Limited as commercial manager (OEM and corporate), Mr McGregor comes to Honda after almost five years with Ford Australia, most recently marketing manager for SUVs and commercial vehicles during which time he was heavily involved in the launch of the new Everest, EcoSport and latest Kuga.

He also had a stint as a product marketing specialist at Ford for its small cars and commercial vans, having joined the Blue Oval brand in early 2011 after about six years with Carlton and United Breweries/Foster’s Group Limited.

At CUB Mr McGregor worked in a variety of roles including senior brand manager (VB), brand manager (Carlton), commercial manager and ‘commercial insights analyst’.

At Honda Australia, Mr McGregor reports directly to director Stephen Collins and oversees four departments: brand communications, public relations, customer relationship management and customer relations.

“Scott has joined us at a very exciting time,” Mr Collins said. “Our sales are growing thanks to our fantastic product line-up, with more highly anticipated models on the way.

“The customer and communications division will benefit greatly from Scott’s experience and leadership and we’re pleased to have him as part of the Honda family.”

VFACTS figures released today show Honda’s sales have grown 25.8 per cent to the end of November, putting the company on track to surpass 40,000 annual sales for the first time since 2010.

Honda Australia plans to return to 60,000 sales inside the next three years, helped along by new models such as the HR-V which has been almost singlehandedly responsible for its current sales position, contributing more than 10,000 units since launch in February.

In comparison, every other model line bar the Jazz light car and Odyssey people-mover are in negative territory this year, with the company eagerly anticipating the new-generation Civic small car due mid-2016.

Earlier this week, Honda was named the top car company in Australia in terms of aftersales service, leading all other mass-market brands in the JD Power 2015 Australia Customer Service Index (CSI) Study.

By Terry Martin