Monty, Scott Monty:
Ford’s Agent of Change
Scott Monty is a complete pro.
Huge respect for others, thoughtful words, solid information, and the wardrobe
you need to do battle.
Meg Fowler
Award-winning writer and social media/marketing maven 
Adroit in Detroit
Comic Steven Wright once told the story of two kittens looking on as a cat leapt from atop a multi-story building. The cat back-flipped and turned, somersaulting over and over before landing perfectly on all fours. One kitten turned to the other and said, “See, that’s how you do it.”
When corporate communicators and would-be social media experts watch Scott Monty’s agile representation of Ford Motor Company it’s not difficult to imagine them remarking, “See, that’s how you do it.”
Ready for Action
As the social ‘face’ of a major brand, Scott Monty is doing what many social media practitioners can only aspire to. And he’s teaching everyone how it’s done. He’s the corporate online (and, often offline) face of Ford Motor Company, their social network hub, legal liaison and lay interpreter, public relations mouthpiece, arbiter, friend, dad—in short, the Fortune 500 social media field agent archetype.
“For anyone asking about the Ford fan sites and legal action: I’m in active discussions with our legal dept. about resolving it.
Please re-tweet.”
Scott Monty
Twitter, 10 Dec 2008
A Man on a Mission
Several degrees from Boston University and a pharmaceutical and biotech background serve Monty well in the critical thinking department. And he’s had ample opportunity to think on his feet during critical moments over the past several months.
Monty’s offset a mainstream media harangue-fest of Ford’s CEO in front of Congress while quashing an internal firestorm over legal action against a Ford fan site. He captains executive-level initiatives, meting out messaging and sustaining, repairing and enhancing Ford’s brand on a daily basis.
Well-versed, well-equipped
And the man is everywhere, talking about everything to everyone and changing the way Ford is viewed in the public arena. Scott Monty knows the value of scaling numbers—leveraging every major social network tool, gadget and most importantly, relationship it takes to forge and sustain an organic social connection with Ford’s brand online.
Several select episodes from Monty’s tool of choice, Twitter:
Unafraid of refuting fellow Social Media elites
“‘Luddite-filled?’ That’s pretty strong language. What ’s your evidence?” -Scott Monty | 30 Nov 08
A self-effacing humorist
“Jesse Stay did you buy one of our corporate jets? ;-)” - Scott Monty | 10 Dec 08
Rallying community support
“For anyone asking about the Ford fan sites and legal action: I’m in active discussions with our legal dept. about resolving it. Please re-tweet.” - Scott Monty | 10 Dec 08
Swinging back
“Just wondering: with an approval rating of about 10%, why hasn’t Congress called itself for questioning?” - Scott Monty | 10 Dec 08
Instigating community connection
“At AquaVox in the Venetian with Ford CEO Alan Mulally. Stop by!” [from CES] -Scott Monty | 7 Jan 09
Promoting new ideas
“How about crowdsourced suggestions for the next iteration of Ford’s in-car SYNC system?” -Scott Monty | 19 Jan 09
Key Skill Set; Social, Very Social
Acting as both a representative and ambassador of Ford, Monty employs his easy humor, genuineness and intelligence to the greatest good, treating dissenters and supporters alike with respect and self-effacing self-control. In lending his formidable personal equity to Ford’s cause, Scott Monty has indeed become the social face of Ford.
Related links
The Ranger Station Fire | 488 KB .pdf
January 27th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Good stuff, Ed. Scott’s a keeper. ;)
Tim Walker’s last blog post: From the Department of Silver Linings
January 28th, 2009 at 12:17 am
I love it. Agreed on everything.
Meg’s last blog post: cold toes, warm heart.
January 28th, 2009 at 8:19 pm
Ed - is it possible that Tim, you, Meg and I all have a man crush on Scott? Crap, did I say that out loud. Now that’s totally going to go to his head. Seriously though, that guy has got it going on!
Best,
Aaron
Aaron Strout’s last blog post: Slides from Today’s “Building a Business Case for Social Marketing” Webcast
January 29th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Aaron - I think it’s perfectly normal for men to experience normally abnormal man crushes (?). It’s Meg that concerns me. And Scott that concerns Gradon. And all of us that concern Scott. :)
Meg - See above. :)
Tim - If I were you, I’d distance myself from all this as quickly as possible. :)
…………………………………………..
In truth, he really is breaking new ground and not digging ditches while he breaks it. I admire anyone who performs a job well - particularly under difficult circumstances.
-Ed
April 2nd, 2009 at 10:06 am
Ford is a good car :)
June 15th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
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