Ricardo Appoints Morley as Global VP, Controls & Electronics Business

VAN BUREN TWP., Mich., Sept. 14 -- Ricardo -- a leading global technology, engineering and business consulting partner for automotive, commercial vehicle, military and related transportation market sectors -- has appointed Karina K. Morley as global vice president, controls and electronics.

With more than 20 years of automotive engineering experience, Morley will serve as global product group director for Ricardo's rapidly growing worldwide controls and electronics business. In this role, she will report to Chief Executive Officer David Shemmans.

Morley also joins the Ricardo U.S. senior management team as a vice president reporting to President Jeremy Holt. Morley will be based at Ricardo's Detroit Technology Campus and U.S. headquarters in Van Buren Twp., Mich.

Currently, the controls and electronics area is Ricardo's highest growth segment globally, fueled by rapid growth of electronics penetration in vehicles, growth in mechatronics and increasing complexities related to supply chain and system integration. The controls and electronics sector is a vital element of the company's technical strategy -- supporting its involvement in hybrids, fuel cells, advanced gasoline and diesel engines, efficient transmissions and drivelines, and complete vehicle development.

"Demand for electronics-based automotive features is projected to grow steadily over the next decade, requiring rapid development and broad-based technical experts," Shemmans said. "Karina's leadership will accelerate Ricardo's growth in this area, which has been built through recent investments, including our acquisition and successful integration of automotive software specialist Tarragon Embedded Technology Ltd. We are strongly dedicated to continuing investments and building further momentum in this strategic business area."

Prior to joining Ricardo, Morley served as powertrain control electronic director for Visteon Corp. in Van Buren Twp., where she led a global organization of 400 engineers, created a new strategic direction, implemented training of engineers in China to support a joint venture and created a new lean organization to reduce budget spending.

Earlier, Morley served as powertrain controls senior engineering manager for Visteon, where she led the development of new technologies, including ionization ignition controls, electro-mechanical valve actuation and controls for harsh environments. Before this, she was climate control design engineering manager.

Previously, Morley was a chassis and climate control electronic design engineering manager for Ford Motor Co., where she led teams responsible for the design of new products, including electronic modules for new technologies such as 42V, electric hydraulic power assist steering, electric steering, brake-by-wire and active tilt control systems.

She began her career at Chrysler Corp. in 1984 and transitioned to Ford in 1988 as an audio applications engineer and served in various engineering and management positions of increasing responsibility, including: audio business planner; audio and instrument cluster systems applications supervisor; manufacturing manager of international service assignments; outside sales cruise control supervisor; and quality manager.

Morley earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan in Dearborn and a master's of business administration in international business from Wayne State University in Detroit.

With its North American headquarters in Van Buren Twp., Mich., Ricardo -- a world-leading vehicle system and powertrain technology provider for automotive manufacturers, heavy-duty manufacturers and tier one suppliers -- has been providing value through innovation and technology for 100 years.

Ricardo is the premium global deep-content engineering and management consulting partner for automotive, commercial vehicle and related industry sectors. The company provides complete engineering services from strategy through product concept, design release and validation, and all phases of the product lifecycle. Ricardo technical expertise lies in powertrain and driveline, vehicle engineering, hybrid and fuel cell technologies, controls and electronics, niche volume manufacturing and advanced simulation software.

Ricardo is committed to excellence and industry leadership in people, technology and knowledge. A public company based in the U.K., Ricardo plc posted sales of $272 million in fiscal year 2005 and is a part of the FTSE techMark 100 index -- a group of innovative technology companies listed on the London Stock Exchange. For more information, visit http://www.ricardo.com/ .

NOTE TO EDITORS: Morley currently resides in Canton, Mich. An electronic image of K. Morley can be obtained by contacting J. Killenberg at +1-248-269-1122 or jkillenberg@bianchipr.com .