John W. Potter Joins Oxford Automotive as President and CEO

    TROY, Mich., June 13 Oxford Automotive, Inc., a leading
full-service global supplier of highly engineered metal-formed systems and
mechanisms, announced today that John W. Potter has joined the company as
president and chief executive officer.
    
    "We are excited to announce John Potter's appointment," said Selwyn
Isakow, chairman of Oxford Automotive's board of directors.  "John's
experience and background in running large automotive supply operations and
building global businesses and management teams reinforce the vision and build
upon the capabilities of Oxford Automotive as we continue to grow.  John has
been where we are going."

    Potter, a U.K. citizen, retired in January 1999 from TI Group plc, London.
His position with Oxford Automotive will be his third career tour of duty in
the Detroit area.  He was first in Detroit from 1981 until 1983 when he was
director of operations for the Axle International Division of Rockwell
International Corp.  Potter returned to Detroit in 1989 as president of Bundy
Western Hemisphere, a division of TI Group plc.

    Potter was with TI Group plc for 13 years, where he was a main board
director and group director of manufacturing and quality.  TI Group plc is a
$4 billion global engineering company with world-leading business groups in
automotive, aerospace and industrial markets.  TI Group divisions operate more
than 400 facilities in 47 countries and employ more than 40,000 employees.
During his career with TI Group, Potter was CEO of three of the company's four
divisions.

    Potter joined TI Group plc in 1988 as managing director of Bundy Europe.
He was appointed president of Bundy Western Hemisphere in 1989 and chief
executive of Bundy Group in 1990.  He became a main board director of TI Group
plc in 1992.  He was chief executive of John Crane Group from 1994 until 1998.

    "Potter's appointment at Oxford Automotive is a reflection of the growth
we have achieved in the global market, with 50 percent of our sales now coming
from overseas," said Isakow.  "He brings with him an increased level of global
expertise that will serve us well as we focus on integrating our worldwide
operations, winning new programs globally and building an organization to take
Oxford Automotive to the next level."

    From 1977 to 1988, Potter held senior managerial positions with Rockwell
International, a $13 billion company, including a five-year stint in Italy.

    Prior to his career at Rockwell, Potter gained general management
experience at GKN plc and at Westland Helicopters plc after initial training
with the Eaton Corporation in England.

    Isakow also announced that Steven Abelman has resigned to pursue other
interests and opportunities.

    Potter, 58, is a Chartered Engineer and Member of the Institute of
Electrical Engineers, an Associate Member of the British Institute of
Management, and a member of the S.A.E.  He is a graduate of Willesden College,
London, England, with a degree in Production Engineering.  Potter is a U.K.
citizen holding U.S. resident status, with homes in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.,
and Tampa, Fla.