MANN+HUMMEL USA Names Thomas to Communications Post

PORTAGE, Mich., Jan. 29, 2004 -- Julie Thomas has been named executive assistant to the president of MANN+HUMMEL USA with responsibility for the automotive supplier's public relations programs.

Thomas, who has more than 20 years of experience in sales and marketing, advertising and trade shows, will report directly to Claude Mathieu, the company's president. She will be based at MANN+HUMMEL's North American headquarters in Portage.

She previously was worldwide sales manager for Westcott, a photographic equipment manufacturer headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, where she also had responsibility for Westcott's advertising and sales promotion programs.

Her career background includes experience in trade exhibits and business management for the Photo Marketing Association International in Jackson, Mich.

About MANN+HUMMEL:

The MANN+HUMMEL Group is an international company. In 2002, the company achieved sales of $1.1 billion. The MANN+HUMMEL Group employs approximately 8,800 people at 41 locations worldwide. The company develops, produces and sells technically complex automotive components such as air filter systems, intake manifold systems, liquid filter systems and cabin filters for the automotive industry, and filter elements for the automotive aftermarket. For general engineering, process engineering and industrial manufacturing sectors, the company's product range includes industrial filters, filter systems, and materials handling systems and equipment. MANN+HUMMEL's customers come from a large number of sectors, with the automotive industry occupying a key position. Further information about MANN+HUMMEL can be found on the Internet at http://www.mann-hummel.com/ .