Maja to take charge of customer affairs at Ford

Maja Smith is the new Ford Customer Service Division (FCSD) Director. She brings with her vast experience in the Customer Experience space and will introduce a new way of thinking to what is one of Ford’s most important areas of business.

22 Maja Ford1

She will be responsible for developing customer satisfaction and business growth initiatives that will maximise the potential for the company’s parts and service businesses. Her new responsibilities build upon the changes she made to Ford’s Customer Experience (CX), which included the launch of a like-for-like, instant customer loan car programme, a proactive call centre that reaches out to customers who experience a vehicle failure, and system enhancements that allow Ford to monitor customers’ vehicles while at dealer workshops.

As the company prepares for the launch of its next-gen Ranger and Everest later this year, Maja will lead a team through the process of operating 10 hubs across South Africa that will gather the best technical minds to ensure no customer is without his or her car for longer than a week in the event of a technical concern.

“Ford’s Customer Service Division is not only about selling genuine Ford parts and technical expertise. It is about the whole experience, every single touchpoint our customers experience in their journey with us, which we hope will last a lifetime,” she says.

Neale Hill, President of Ford Motor Company Africa region, acknowledges Maja for revitalising and modernising Ford’s CX to a stage where it now sets new benchmarks in its field. “Her contributions have had a profound effect throughout so many stages of the customer journey, and I know she’ll tackle her new role of FCSD Director with the same determination, echoing Ford’s commitment to the country, its customers, as well as its commitment to the future,” says Neale.

More Industry News stories

130 Years of Merc trucks at retro classics Stuttgart 2026

130 Years of Merc trucks at retro classics Stuttgart 2026

Mercedes‑Benz Trucks Classic will open its anniversary year, “130 Years of Trucks,” at Retro Classics Stuttgart from 19 to 22 February 2026, inviting visitors to explore the long and eventful history of commercial vehicle development.

  • 16 February 2026
Good news at SONA but hard work ahead

Good news at SONA but hard work ahead

The Automotive Business Council (naamsa) welcomes the 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA) and government’s continued recognition of the automotive industry as a strategic pillar of South Africa’s manufacturing economy.

  • 16 February 2026