J.L. French Automotive Castings, Inc., Announces Resignation of Chief Financial Officer

    MINNEAPOLIS--June 18, 2003--J.L. French Automotive Castings, Inc., (the "Company") today announced that Mark S. Burgess, chief financial officer, has resigned to become chief financial officer of a Boston, MA based public company.
    Mr. Burgess joined the company in November 2000. He played a key role in the financing transactions completed by the company in December 2002 and was instrumental in significantly improving the working capital management and the financial controls at the Company.
    Anthony A. Barone, will serve as interim chief financial officer. Mr. Barone, a current member of the company's board of directors, served as chief financial officer of Tower Automotive from 1995 through 2003 and as chief financial officer of O'Sullivan Corporation from 1984 through 1995.
    "While we will miss Mark's contributions, we realize that this is a great opportunity for him to further his career as a CFO of a public company," said David S. Hoyte, chief executive officer of J.L. French. "We also are very pleased that Tony Barone has agreed to serve as interim CFO. His long tenure in the automotive industry will be very valuable to J.L. French."

    About J.L. French Automotive Castings, Inc.

    J.L. French Automotive Castings, Inc., is a leading global designer and manufacturer of highly engineered aluminum die cast automotive parts including oil pans, engine front covers and transmission cases. The company has manufacturing facilities in Sheboygan, Wis.; Benton Harbor, Mich.; Glasgow, Ky.; San Andres de Echevarria, Spain; Saltillo, Mexico; as well as five plants in the United Kingdom. The company is based in Sheboygan, Wis., and has its corporate office in Minneapolis, Minn.