Freudenberg-NOK Names Executives to General Manager and CFO Positions

PLYMOUTH, Mich., June 27 -- Freudenberg-NOK recently appointed Craig T. Barnhart as general manager of its gasket division and Douglas J. Nye as chief financial officer (CFO) of its manufactured products group. The announcements were made by Richard E. Allen, chief executive officer of the manufactured products group for Freudenberg-NOK.

"Craig and Doug both have more than 10 years of experience at Freudenberg- NOK and have proven themselves to be strong assets within our organization," said Allen. "With their extensive experience in the areas of finance and business management, I am confident that they will further contribute to the success of the company and I look forward to working with them in their new capacities."

In his new role as general manager, Barnhart is responsible for developing strategic goals, implementing operational excellence and identifying revenue growth opportunities for the company's gasket division. He reports directly to Allen and is based at the company's headquarters in Plymouth, Mich.

Most recently, Barnhart served Freudenberg-NOK as CFO for the manufactured products group, where he implemented a task-driven forecast methodology that improved operational performance and integrity of forecast data. Earlier, he was the division finance manager for the automotive sector in Manchester, N.H.

Prior to joining Freudenberg-NOK as manager of corporate financial analysis in 1995, Barnhart served as controller and manager of corporate accounting for Newcor, Inc. Wilson Automation Division, a $60 million supplier of engine and transmission assembly systems and metal-cutting equipment to the original equipment manufacturer market.

He began his financial career as an accountant for Price Waterhouse in Detroit.

Barnhart earned a bachelor of science and administration degree in accounting from Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Mich. and a master's of business and administration from the University of Detroit. He achieved his Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification and is Six Sigma Green Belt certified. Barnhart also serves as secretary on the Board of Directors for Ishino Gasket North America, LLC, one of Freudenberg-NOK's joint ventures.

As CFO of Freudenberg-NOK's manufactured products group, Nye is responsible for the $700 million sector of Freudenberg-NOK, which represents 70 percent of the total revenue base for the company and operates from 20 manufacturing locations. He replaces Barnhart, who held the position since 1999.

Since joining Freudenberg-NOK in 1992, Nye has held various positions of increasing responsibility, most recently serving as CFO of Simrit -- the industrial products division of Freudenberg-NOK -- helping the division realize a nearly 15 percent annual sales increase over the past two years. In addition, Nye currently serves as secretary on the Board of Directors for Flexitech, a Freudenberg-NOK joint venture.

He also served as CFO for the company's Vibracoustic North America business and earlier as a finance manager for several product divisions.

Prior to joining Freudenberg-NOK, Nye was plant controller at Mueller Industries, where he was charged with site controller functions for the company's largest facility. He began working at Mueller Industries in 1988 at its corporate headquarters, where he served as financial reporting manager.

Nye began his career in 1984 at Ernst & Whinney, where he was employed as senior auditor.

He earned a bachelor of arts degree in accounting from Michigan State University, graduating with high honors, and achieved his CPA certification two years later.

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/ .