Ford China officially announces PR leadership change: Yang Meihong to retire at the end of March, Li Fangfang to succeed

China Economic Net, March 2nd (Reporter Jiang Zhiwen) — Today, Ford China announced that Yang Meihong, Vice President of Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility at Ford China, will retire at the end of March this year. Li Fangfang, currently Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs for Lincoln China, will assume the role of Vice President of Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility at Ford China, with the appointment taking effect on April 1st.

Yang Meihong (left) and Li Fangfang (right)

This personnel adjustment is an important step in optimizing Ford China’s brand management system and reflects new trends in China’s automotive industry amid the wave of intelligent electrification transformation. The career paths of Yang Meihong and Li Fangfang are vivid examples of development and change in the field of automotive communication in China.

As one of the early professionals engaged in automotive industry news dissemination and public relations in China, Yang Meihong has been dedicated to automotive communication for over 30 years, including more than ten years at Ford. She has witnessed China’s automotive market evolve from being dominated by foreign brands to the rise of domestic brands and the reshaping of the landscape through intelligent electrification.

Yang Meihong worked at Ford China from 1996 to 2001; she returned to Ford China in June 2021 as Vice President of Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility. During her tenure, Yang leveraged her extensive experience in the automotive industry to oversee Ford’s brand communication, public relations, corporate social responsibility, and ESG practices in China, continuously enhancing Ford’s brand image and expanding the social impact of公益 projects like the Ford Environmental Award.

Moreover, Yang has always maintained a philanthropic spirit, once stating, “If public welfare is just for show, I would prefer more companies to do so.” Under her leadership, Ford China has built a stable and positive brand communication ecosystem, effectively aligning Ford’s global strategy with local market needs, earning high recognition within the industry.

Wu Shengbo, Vice President of Ford Motor Company and President & CEO of Ford China and International Markets Group, said: “Ms. Yang Meihong is recognized by the media and industry as one of the most influential female leaders in the automotive sector, highly respected and admired. During her recent five-year tenure at Ford China, she leveraged her over thirty years of deep industry experience to help promote Ford’s ‘Go Wild’ brand campaign in innovative ways, and her unique insights and leadership have kept Ford’s brand story relevant and powerful amid rapid changes in the communication environment.”

As Yang Meihong’s successor, Li Fangfang has a background in authoritative media work and has held management positions in communications at Jaguar Land Rover China and Lincoln China, accumulating extensive experience in luxury automotive brand communication and public affairs management. She possesses mature, systematic capabilities in brand building, product communication, crisis management, and cross-organizational collaboration.

In recent years, China’s automotive industry has rapidly entered a deep transformation phase of intelligent electrification, with new energy vehicle penetration approaching 50% by 2025, L3 autonomous driving pilot projects being implemented, and industry competition shifting from “incremental competition” to “stock game.” Joint venture brands’ market share continues to decline amid strong challenges from domestic new energy brands.

Against this backdrop, the core logic of automotive brand communication has undergone profound changes. It is no longer limited to traditional brand exposure but emphasizes the value transmission of intelligent electrification products. ESG practices, user operations, and localized innovation have become key competitive factors, demanding higher digital thinking, cross-sector collaboration, and market adaptability from Li Fangfang.

Wu Shengbo stated: “With Ms. Li Fangfang’s industry insights and extensive experience in corporate communication and brand building gained from her work at China Daily and several multinational automotive companies, we believe she will lead Ford China’s communication efforts to new heights.”