TriMas Corporation Appoints Corporate Controller, General Counsel Executives

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich., July 9 -- TriMas Corporation recently appointed two executives, E.R. "Skip" Autry and William "Bill" Fullmer, as corporate controller and general counsel, respectively.

"It is great to have Skip join the TriMas finance team," said Todd Peters, executive vice president and chief financial officer. "His extensive background in financial management and experience in corporate finance will allow TriMas to continue to maximize shareholder value and enhance our growth initiatives."

As corporate controller, Autry will work with the group controllers and provide financial consulting and strategic support to the senior management of the company. He will be responsible for the administration, analysis and reporting of the company's actual and forecasted results, annual budget, five- year operating model and strategic plans. He will also administer the capital expenditure process, including pre- and post-acquisition analysis, and maintain the company's financial consolidation infrastructure. Autry will be based in the Bloomfield Hills corporate office.

"We are also pleased that Bill has accepted the responsibility to strategically lead TriMas Corporation in its legal affairs as our corporate general counsel," said Grant Beard, president and chief executive officer. "He has a proven track record and extensive background relative to the support of business operations."

Fullmer, who also serves as a partner at the Cleveland-based law firm McDonald Hopkins, will be responsible for the strategic direction and coordination of all TriMas legal activities worldwide. He will be a member of the TriMas Executive Committee and primary legal resource for the company's business units. He will maintain an office at the corporate headquarters in Bloomfield Hills.

Autry has more than 20 years of experience in financial and operational management. Most recently, he was vice president of finance at Freudenberg- NOK in Plymouth, Mich. From 1986 to 1995, he held various positions at Chrysler Corp., including director of corporate accounting, manager of corporate investment analysis and corporate staff controller. He began his career at Coopers & Lybrand in Detroit as a senior audit manager for Ford Motor Co.

Autry earned a bachelor of science in accounting from Wayne State University in Detroit and a master's degree in business administration from Michigan State University's Advanced Management Program in Troy, Mich. He is a certified public accountant.

Fullmer has 19 years of legal experience both in private practice and as in-house corporate counsel in a number of diverse industries. His most recent position was vice president, assistant general counsel and assistant secretary for TRW Inc. He has held executive-level legal positions within TRW, and has focused his legal practice in areas such as mergers and acquisitions, securities, finance, information systems and general corporate and commercial matters.

Fullmer earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, and attended Ohio State University College of Law in Columbus, Ohio. He is a member of the State Bar of Ohio and the American Bar Association.

Headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., TriMas is a diversified growth company of high-end, specialty niche businesses manufacturing a variety of products for commercial, industrial and consumer markets worldwide. TriMas is organized into four strategic business groups: Cequent Transportation Accessories, Rieke Packaging Systems, Fastening Systems and Industrial Specialties. TriMas has nearly 5,000 employees at 80 different facilities in 10 countries. For more information, visit www.trimascorp.com .

NOTE TO EDITORS: A native of the Detroit area, Autry currently resides in Birmingham, Mich. Fullmer is a native of the Cleveland area.