Yazaki Names New Vice Presidents

CANTON, Mich., June 25 -- Yazaki North America, Inc. (Yazaki), a leading supplier of vehicle power and data solutions to the automotive industry, has named David Conrad vice president, Logistics, from vice president, Information Technology and Tom Blankinship vice president, Information Technology from executive director, Engineering at S-Y Technologies.

"David and Tom bring experience, energy and sound management competencies to each new assignment," said George R. Perry, President and CEO of Yazaki North America, after making the announcement of their job transitions. "I'm sure that we will see great things come out of this latest step in their career development."

Blankinship brings 20 years of experience to his new position, having formerly worked with GMC in the Packard Electric division, Alcoa-Fujikura, Ltd (AFL), and both Yazaki and S-Y Technologies. After implementing the IT systems and support functions for AFL's branch in Germany, Blankinship came to Yazaki in 2000 to lead program management in the Ford Business Unit. Prior to becoming vice president, Information Technology, Blankinship was the executive director of Engineering for S-Y Technologies America, the joint corporation formed with the merging of Yazaki's and Siemens Automotive's Ford related electrical/electronic power and signal distribution business, in support of Ford Motor Company's systems integration strategy.

Conrad previously worked with EWD, an automotive electrical wiring distribution business acquired from Chrysler by Yazaki in 1994. His experience with Yazaki includes serving as director of Forward Model Development in the Core Engineering Research and Development department, director of e-Business, and most recently vice president, Information Technology. This prior work, as well as his participation in a year long Yazaki global training program in Japan, will prove beneficial to his new position where his responsibilities include management of the component and finished goods warehousing, production control, transportation, customs and packaging for Yazaki's North America Headquarters Campus in Canton, as well as for the Yazaki wire harness affiliate in El Paso, Texas. Additionally, Conrad will maintain his role as Yazaki's Corporate Compliance Officer.

Yazaki Corporation is a global leader in the research, development and delivery of vehicle power and data solutions, as well as advanced electronic technologies for vehicle applications. Yazaki produces electrical distribution systems, fiber optics, advanced networking products, instrumentations, solid state power centers, connection systems and electronics. Worldwide, the company employs over 151,377 people in 37 countries, 1,500 of whom are based in the company's North American headquarters and research center campus in Canton, Michigan. For more information on Yazaki, log onto http://www.yazaki-na.com/ .