Johnson Controls Appoints Two of Its Executives to New Leadership Roles in Automotive Business

New Assignments for Edwards and Kesseler Support Company's Strategic Business Goals

PLYMOUTH, Mich., Oct. 1 -- Officials at the Automotive Group of Johnson Controls , the world's largest supplier of vehicle interiors and batteries, recently announced new assignments for two top executives. Jeff Edwards has been named to a newly created position as group vice president and general manager - Japan and Asia Pacific, and Brian Kesseler has been appointed group vice president and general manager - North America.

These assignments become effective on October 1, 2004, and both executives will continue to report to Keith Wandell, president of the Automotive Group of Johnson Controls.

"I am pleased to make these leadership appointments, new assignments that will leverage the talents of highly capable people and support the strategic business goals of Johnson Controls," said Wandell.

Among the top strategic business goals for Johnson Controls' automotive business are global growth and customer satisfaction, according to Wandell.

In his new role, Edwards will relocate to Tokyo, Japan and oversee the company's operations, functions and customer business units in Japan and the Asia-Pacific region. Kesseler will lead all customer business units, operations, and functional groups based in North America. He will continue to be based in Plymouth, Michigan.

Edwards joined Johnson Controls in 1984 and has held a series of leadership positions with the company. In 2004, he was elected as a Johnson Controls corporate officer. Edwards holds a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Clarion University in Clarion, Pennsylvania.

Kesseler joined the Johnson Controls management team in 1994, and -- prior to his new assignment -- served as group vice president and general manager of customer business units, North America. Before coming to Johnson Controls, he held positions of increasing responsibility at Ford Motor Company. Kesseler has a bachelor's degree in finance from Michigan State University, and a master's degree in systems management from Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio.

Johnson Controls is a global market leader in automotive systems and facility management and control. In the automotive market, it is a major supplier of integrated seating and interior systems, and batteries. For non-residential facilities, Johnson Controls provides control systems and services including comfort, energy and security management. Johnson Controls , founded in 1885, has headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.