Freudenberg-NOK Names O'Hare Vice President of Human Resources

PLYMOUTH, Mich., Dec. 20, 2004 -- Freudenberg-NOK has named Sarah A. O'Hare as vice president of human resources (HR). The announcement was made by Dr. Mohsen Sohi, president and chief executive officer for the company.

In her new position, O'Hare will drive the strategic direction of the HR function, including compensation, benefits, recruiting, labor relations, training, and organizational and associate development. She will focus her efforts on developing and enhancing processes, gaining corporate transparency and efficiency, and fostering a culture of trust, confidence and participation.

O'Hare began her career at Freudenberg-NOK in 1998 as the director of compensation. The following year she was promoted to director of compensation and benefits. Based at Freudenberg-NOK's headquarters in Plymouth, O'Hare will report directly to Sohi.

"With more than 15 years of experience in human resources, Sarah will clearly be a great addition to the executive staff," said Sohi. "We are confident that she will successfully lead a lean, process driven team and enhance the corporate human resources function -- an integral part of our business culture."

Prior to joining Freudenberg-NOK, O'Hare served as compensation manager at Novi, Mich.-based Standard Products, currently a division of Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. There, she was responsible for the global compensation function, including developing and updating salary structures, conducting job analysis, and administration of the annual bonus program and stock option program.

Earlier, she was a corporate compensation specialist with NBD Bank in Detroit, Mich.

From 1989 to 1994, O'Hare worked as a consultant at William M. Mercer, Inc., a worldwide management consulting firm. There, she worked with clients on projects which included analysis, assessment, design and development of comprehensive compensation systems.

A Certified Compensation Professional, O'Hare earned a bachelor of arts degree in economics from Kalamazoo College in Mich. She has served as president and vice president, education of the Michigan Ontario Compensation Association and has been a guest lecturer at several local universities.

Founded in 1989, Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership is a joint venture between Freudenberg & Co. of Germany and NOK Corp. of Japan.

Freudenberg-NOK is a leader in automotive sealing and noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) products and is a supplier to all automakers producing in North America, as well as all major tier one chassis and drivetrain suppliers. The company's headquarters and technical center in Plymouth, Mich. houses the most extensive supplier-operated sealing and noise and vibration testing facility in North America.

Freudenberg-NOK offers its automotive customers globally integrated products, including sealing packages for transmissions, engines, brakes, axles and steering, NVH components and packages, and all rubber, plastic and PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) components for suspension, electrical and fuel systems.

The company also offers an extensive portfolio of special precision seals for the aerospace, appliance, business machine, fluid power, marine, medical, off-highway equipment and recreational vehicle markets. For more information, visit the Freudenberg-NOK website at http://www.freudenberg-nok.com/ .