New Chief Manufacturing Engineer For Delphi's Engine Management Systems Product Line

Hildenbrand Named TROY, Mich., March 25 -- Bruce Hildenbrand has been named chief manufacturing engineer for Delphi Corporation's engine management systems product line, effective April 1.

Hildenbrand will report to Jeff Overly, director of manufacturing engineering for Delphi Energy & Chassis Systems. He succeeds Rick Perlet, who is retiring June 1 after 35 years of service.

In his new position, Hildenbrand will be responsible for leading the design of many of Delphi's most advanced technologies. The engine management systems portfolio includes fuel cells, gasoline and diesel direct-injection systems, air/fuel management systems, catalytic exhaust control systems, ignitions, valvetrains and more.

``We are very pleased to have a person of Bruce's caliber in this position,'' Overly said. ``He will be leading the process and manufacturing system design activities for a critical part of our portfolio, and the challenges he'll face will be broad and demanding. Beyond improving current emissions and vehicle performance, we're seeking to make diesel cars and trucks more viable in the United States, and we're looking to create alternative propulsion systems that involve fuel cells, hydrogen and potentially other sources. Bruce's deep product knowledge, leadership skills and cross-functional experience will help us meet those design challenges.''

Hildenbrand, 42, is a 20-year veteran of Delphi and General Motors Corp. His most recent assignment was manufacturing engineer superintendent for Delphi Energy & Chassis Systems' Coopersville, Mich., facility, a position he has held since April 1999. Prior to that, Hildenbrand served as the plant quality manager in Coopersville during 1998, and he was a senior purchasing buyer at AC Rochester division in Flint for two years starting in 1993. His career began in Flint at GM's AC Spark Plug Division, where he held various manufacturing engineering positions between 1981 and 1987.

Hildenbrand earned his bachelor's of science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (1982). He also holds a master's degree in business administration from the University of Michigan- Flint (1987).

We also wish Rick Perlet the best in his retirement. His 35 years of dedicated leadership with his vast cross-functional Energy Management Systems experience was extremely value-added and will truly be missed.