Collins & Aikman Corporation Names Kawakami Vice President NAFTA/Asia Business Unit

TROY, Mich., Aug. 15 -- Collins & Aikman Corporation announced today the appointment, effective immediately, of Raymond Kawakami as vice president NAFTA/Asia business unit. Kawakami, who will be based at the company's Troy, Mich., headquarters, will report directly to Genichiro Yanagita, vice president and general manager for the company's international business unit based in Yokohama, Japan. ADVERTISEMENT

Kawakami will primarily be responsible for general business development for Asian automotive manufacturers with operations in North and South America. He will also have responsibility for program management, product development and pricing activities as they relate to supporting the requirements of this customer base.

Commenting on the appointment, Yanagita stated, "Ray Kawakami is an excellent addition to our International Business Unit. He possesses knowledge of our customers' needs and has extensive experience traveling and working throughout Asia."

Prior to joining Collins & Aikman, Kawakami held the position of director of sales and marketing for Magna International's joint venture CAMACO, L.L.C. He is an industry veteran with more than 17 years of experience in both the United States and Asian automotive supply industries. Kawakami holds a bachelor's of arts degree in political science and business from the University of Toledo.

Collins & Aikman Corporation is a global leader in cockpit modules and automotive floor and acoustic systems and a leading supplier of instrument panels, automotive fabric, plastic based trim and convertible top systems. The Company's current operations span the globe through 15 countries, more than 120 facilities and over 25,000 employees who are committed to achieving total excellence. Collins & Aikman's high-quality products combine superior design, styling and manufacturing capabilities with NVH "quiet" technologies that are among the most effective in the industry. Information about Collins & Aikman is available on the Internet at www.collinsaikman.com .