Mazda Australia Remembers Mike Quist

VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA – June 3, 2011: The Mazda Australia family is today mourning the loss of Mike Quist, public relations manager at the company between 1979 and 2001, who sadly passed away yesterday.

Mike Quist’s 22 year career with Mazda began in 1979 when he took on a role at Mazda Marketing Services before soon moving onto the role of national public relations manager at the newly-formed Mazda Australia.

Mr Quist’s inspirational communication skills and immense passion for the Mazda brand made sure that his impact was felt across the industry.

An infectious sense of humour and never-ending enthusiasm only served to stretch this impact even further.

In many ways Mike Quist was seen as somewhat of a trailblazer in the world of automotive public relations. He was one of the first PR managers to take the media right into the heart of Mazda’s manufacturing operations in Japan and played a leading role in setting up the MX-5 owners clubs that still flourish today.

Innovation is seen as being another of Mr Quist’s strengths and he maximised every sponsorship opportunity to create a story for Mazda. From motor racing through to lawn bowls and from AFL to opera, no opportunity was seen as too challenging or beyond his reach.

Former Mazda Australia managing director, Malcolm Gough, spent many years working alongside Mr Quist and has many fond memories. “Mike was very much a family man and delighted in their every achievement. He was very much a leader in automotive PR and helped forge strong and lasting relationships with the press which ensured Mazda received significantly more exposure than our market share at the time justified. Part of Mazda’s success today is due to Mike’s efforts and his approach to PR. Mike will be sadly missed” said Mr Gough.

Mazda Australia managing director, Doug Dickson, also spent 14 years working with Mr Quist. “In the late eighties after the dollar first crashed and burned, Mazda really struggled. Mike's rapport with the media hid many sins because we were then years away from products that truly justified the prices we had to charge. Mike also helped shape our culture. His hard work and drive to squeeze PR opportunities where none appeared evident was an inspiration none of us has forgotten. Mike could also celebrate the good times. But I can vouch from experience that there was no place for inflated egos around Mike's at times devastatingly acerbic wit. A Mazda legend. Mike will be missed by many."

Mazda Australia’s thoughts at this time are with Mike’s wife Ginny, daughter Jackie, son David and their extended family.