Johnson Controls Leaders Named to New Positions in Company's Automotive Business

PLYMOUTH, Mich., Oct. 1, 2002; -- Officials at automotive interior supplier Johnson Controls announced the appointments of four executives to new positions. John Gorton was named group vice president and general manager of Product and Business Development. In this position, he will be responsible for leading the company's product and business development and engineering groups. Gorton most recently served as vice president and general manager of Johnson Controls' Cockpit, Overhead and Door Systems Product Business Unit. Brian Kesseler was appointed group vice president and general manager of Customer Business Units. In this role, he will lead the company's Ford and General Motors business units on a worldwide basis, and provide support to Johnson Controls' European and Asian Customer Business Units. Kesseler previously served as vice president and general manager of the company's Ford Business Unit. Jeff Williams was named group vice president and general manager of North American Operations. In this new post, he will be responsible for directing manufacturing, logistics and supply chain management in North America - including "Just-in-Time" (JIT) manufacturing operations, seating components and interior systems. He most recently served as vice president and general manager of JIT Operations in the automotive division. Larry Donaldson was appointed vice president of Quality and Quality Systems - North America. In this role, he will provide leadership and continued improvements in Johnson Controls' consistent quality execution in manufacturing, advance quality, supply base performance and development, and policies and systems. Donaldson previously served as vice president and senior executive of the Johnson Controls Leadership Institute and has been closely involved in the rollout of the Six Sigma initiatives at the company's Automotive Systems Group. These changes support efforts at the company's Automotive Systems Group to realign global resources to better serve its customers.

"These leaders have proven records of success for our company, and we're proud to challenge them with new opportunities to help us exceed customers' expectations," said Rande Somma, president of the Automotive Systems Group for Johnson Controls. "Providing consistent quality, world-class products and services and customer satisfaction on a global basis are top priorities for us, and I believe John, Brian, Jeff and Larry will enable our team to meet these goals."

Gorton, Kesseler, Williams and Donaldson all will be based at the company's automotive unit headquarters in Plymouth, Michigan.

Kesseler, Williams and Donaldson are residents of Plymouth, Michigan and Gorton resides in Livonia, Michigan.