Bosch's Knut Bendixen to Retire as President of North American Automotive Aftermarket Division

BROADVIEW, Ill., March 16 -- Robert Bosch Corporation (BOSCH) has announced that Knut (Ben) Bendixen, President of the North American Automotive Aftermarket Division will retire effective July 1, 2005. Ben will complete a 40-year career with Bosch in the United States. Ben joined Robert Bosch Corporation in New York in 1965 as a Field Sales Representative. He was promoted to National Sales Manager in 1973; Director of Sales, Marketing & Service in 1977; Vice President in 1980 and Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing & Service in 1990. He has served as President for the division since 1997.

Replacing Bendixen is David Coolidge. David has been with Bosch for 16 years. During this time, he has worked in Corporate Planning and Controlling in North America and Europe and was a Plant Controller and Divisional Controller in the North American Automotive Original Equipment Division. He has served the North American Automotive Aftermarket Division as its CFO and, most recently, as its Vice-President, Aftermarket Sales and Supply Chain Management. Since 2003, David has also been responsible for Bosch's Canadian operations as Chairman, Robert Bosch Inc. (Canada). David has a B.A. in Economics from DePauw University, an M.B.A. with concentrations in Marketing and Finance from University of Illinois-Chicago, and a Master's degree in Accounting from DePaul University.

In North America, the Bosch Group manufactures and markets automotive original equipment and aftermarket products, industrial automation and mobile hydraulic products, power tools and accessories, security technology, packaging equipment and household appliances. Bosch employs more than 23,000 associates in facilities across North America and reported sales of nearly $8 billion in 2004.