Connell Joins Goodyear as Vice President and Controller

AKRON, Ohio, Aug. 28, 2003 -- The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has named Thomas A. Connell vice president and controller.

Connell, 54, formerly vice president and corporate controller for TRW Inc., will join Goodyear September 1. He will report to Stephanie W. Bergeron, senior vice president, corporate financial operations.

"Tom brings to Goodyear experience as TRW's controller for six years as well as his financial leadership in its operating businesses," said Bergeron. "His knowledge of both technical and operational accounting as well as financial analysis will be important as our corporate financial team further aligns itself to support Goodyear's turnaround."

Connell joined TRW in 1979 as manager of financial accounting. He was named director of financial reporting in 1983; finance director and controller, valve division in 1986; and finance director and controller, engine components in 1987. He became vice president of finance, occupant restraint systems in 1990 and was named to his most-recent position in 1996. TRW was recently acquired by Northrop Grumman Corp.

Prior to joining TRW, Connell was an audit supervisor with accounting firm Ernst & Ernst from 1970 to 1979. He worked in the company's Cleveland and Sao Paulo, Brazil offices.

A native of Bayonne, N.J., Connell earned a bachelor of business administration in accounting and a master of business administration degree from John Carroll University. He is a Certified Public Accountant.

Goodyear is the world's largest tire company. Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, the company manufactures tires, engineered rubber products and chemicals in more than 85 facilities in 28 countries. It has marketing operations in almost every country around the world. Goodyear employs about 92,000 people worldwide.