Long Serving Ford Executive Nigel Harris Passes

Nigel Harris (63), a former Ford New Zealand managing director, died recently at his Bay of Plenty home.

“Nigel passed away peacefully at home in Mount Maunganui,” a statement from his family reads.

“Dearly loved husband of Jacqui, and treasured dad of Caitlin, Dean and Taylor. Much-loved younger brother of Pene, Tony and Paul.”

A funeral service is scheduled for 11am, Fri Aug 30th at Legacy Tauranga, 383 Pyes Pa Road. This will be live streamed for those who can’t attend but wish to participate in the celebration. 

The Harris family requests donations to the Waipuna Hospice rather than flowers. 

Harris worked for the Ford Motor Company for 34 years, starting out at Ford New Zealand in 1985 as a fleet sales analyst. He had earlier graduated from Massey University with a Bachelor of Commerce.

In 1994, Harris was appointed the MD of Ford Hellas, establishing a national sales company in Greece for Ford Europe. 

Three years later he moved to Ford’s UK headquarters in Dunton, Essex, to oversee the development of small Ford vehicles globally. 

Harris returned to New Zealand in 1999 as the head of sales and marketing and became the MD of Ford New Zealand in January 2000.

In 2002, he was appointed the head of marketing, sales and service for the Ford and Mazda brands in South Africa.

From 2007 until 2012, Harris was the sales GM for the Changan Ford joint venture and the vice president of marketing, sales, and service at Ford China.

Thereafter, he was appointed Ford Asia Pacific’s vice president of sales, service and distribution in Shanghai.

Two year on, he was appointed as the president of Ford India. During this time, he was responsible for managing and growing the company’s integrated manufacturing operation.

In 2016, Harris returned to the Changan Ford joint venture in China as its president and chief executive. He was responsible for leading the company’s operations, including manufacturing, marketing, and the selling and servicing of Ford products. 

He left the Blue Oval at the end of 2019. 

Between October 2020 and July 2023, Harris took a contract advisory role with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.

After completing that role, he retired to become a “gentleman farmer.”