INTERMET Board Elects Gary F. Ruff CEO

TROY, Mich., July 17 -- INTERMET Corporation , one of the world's leading manufacturers of cast-metal automotive components, today announced that Gary F. Ruff, 51, has been elected by the Board of Directors to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. He succeeds John Doddridge, 62, who continues as Chairman, a position he has held since 1994.

Ruff, who had been President and COO of INTERMET since December of last year, has over 34 years of experience in the metal-casting and automotive industries. He joined INTERMET in 1999 as Vice President of Technical Services.

"Gary's energy, strategic insight and operations experience combined with a clear vision of INTERMET's role as the industry pacesetter, make him the ideal choice to lead our company into the future," said Doddridge. "Gary and I have had a productive partnership as we have worked together to help make INTERMET one of the automotive industry's most efficient and technologically advanced casting suppliers."

Ruff, in commenting on the announcement, said, "I welcome this opportunity to take a greater role in building on INTERMET's strong foundation as we aggressively compete in the global automotive industry. Our material and process technologies, together with broad manufacturing capabilities, have the company well positioned for future growth."

Ruff began his automotive and casting career in 1969 as a process engineer with the Chevrolet Division of General Motors. He held a variety of positions at GM, progressing to Chief Process Engineer with the Central Foundry Division. In 1987, he joined CMI International, a leading metal caster, as Vice President, Materials. He went on to become Chief Technical Officer and Executive Vice President and Director of CMI. In early 1999, when CMI was acquired by Hayes Lemmerz, he became President of North American Wheels and Corporate Vice President.

Ruff received a PhD in metallurgy and materials science in 1977 from Case Western Reserve University after receiving a Master of Science in Metallurgical Engineering in 1975 from the same University. In 1974 he earned a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from General Motors Institute. He also completed executive and management education programs at Dartmouth, Michigan State University, University of Michigan and National Technological University in Norway.

Ruff is a member of the American Foundry Society, having served as Chairman of numerous AFS committees. He has won a number of awards and has authored over 30 technical papers. He is a member of SAE, ASM International and American Society for Quality. Ruff is a member of the Visiting Committee for the Case School of Engineering and an Adjunct Professor, Material Science and Engineering, at Case Western Reserve University. He also is a Trustee of the Foundry Educational Foundation.

With headquarters in Troy, Michigan, INTERMET Corporation is a manufacturer of powertrain, chassis/suspension and structural components for the automotive industry. INTERMET's strategy is to be the world's leading supplier of cast-metal automotive components. The company has more than 5,500 employees at facilities located in North America and Europe. More information is available on the Internet at www.intermet.com .

This news release and INTERMET's conference call may include forecasts and forward-looking statements about INTERMET, its industry and the markets in which it operates. Forward-looking statements and the achievement of any forecasts or projections are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed. Some of these risks and uncertainties are detailed as a preface to the Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition in the company's 2002 Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2002.

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