AFFINIA GROUP RESTRUCTURES MARKETING ORGANIZATION

                                                    For Immediate
Release
Contact: Scott Howat


 
Director of Corporate Communications

 
Affinia Group Inc.

 
(734) 827-5421

 

 

Affinia Group rESTRUCTurES 

mARKETING oRGANIZATION  

 

Emphasis on Globalization and Category Management

 

            ANN ARBOR, MICH., (Oct. 2, 2006) - Affinia Group Inc., a
global leader in the on- and off-highway replacement parts and service
industry, has announced a transformation of its marketing organization,
including the creation of four new, high-level positions.  According to
Terry R. McCormack, President and CEO of Affinia, the move will place
increased emphasis on global thinking and the use of category management
to drive customer-facing decisions. 

            "This realignment of our marketing team is based on the
changing demands of our channel partners and customers around the
world," McCormack said.  "Facing a need to quickly become more market
driven and customer centric, we have recruited seasoned veterans with
specific skills into a number of key positions.  The charge of this new
team is to focus on customer input and appropriate product development
as facilitators for an aggressive approach to category management."

            Jerry McCabe, formerly Vice President of Communications and
Marketing Services, has been named to the newly created post of Senior
Vice President of Business Architecture.  In addition to providing
overall direction for Affinia's global marketing organization, McCabe
will work closely with McCormack on business strategy development and
global alignment of Affinia's goals and resources.  Filling other new
positions are Jeff Stauffer, Bruce Reau and Terry Shively. 

Stauffer joins Affinia as Senior Vice President of Global Group
Marketing. "Jeff's expertise in category management, brand and product
development, and global business is a perfect match for our plans,"
McCormack said.  "As our operations people complete our global
restructuring in 2007, Jeff and his realigned marketing team will be
aggressively implementing category management and building a foundation
for the next phase of Affinia's strategic plan."  

McCormack went on to say that Stauffer will be responsible for product
management, pricing strategy, marketing, and stewardship of Affinia's
brands on a global basis.   

Prior to joining Affinia, Stauffer was Vice President of Marketing for
the Consumer Products Division of Old World Industries. In that position
he managed all aspects of product development and brand management for a
diverse portfolio of products.  Stauffer, who will relocate with his
wife to the Ann Arbor, Michigan area, will report to McCabe.

Filling another new position, Bruce Reau has been hired as Vice
President of Category Management for Affinia's Under Vehicle Group in
McHenry, Illinois.  To place the same emphasis on category management at
Affinia's Under Hood Group, Dave McColley, formerly Vice President of
Marketing, has been named Vice President of Category Management, Under
Hood Group.  McColley will be realigning his team to support Affinia's
new approach.

"Bruce Reau's broad experience in category management, product
development, and global sourcing fits perfectly with our plans to grow
the brake and chassis categories for our channel partners," McCabe said.
"Putting Bruce together with Jeff Stauffer gives us New York Yankee
style depth in category management."  

Prior to joining Affinia, Reau served as President of Pioneer Inc., a
supplier of engine and driveline products to retail, traditional and
specialty channels. At Pioneer he also held positions as vice president
of marketing and national sales manager.  Previous to Pioneer, Reau was
with Valley Industries, where he served as regional sales manager,
national accounts manager and finally national sales manager. Reau will
be relocating with his family to the Chicago area and will report to
Stauffer.

In his new position as Vice President of Market Development, Terry
Shively will concentrate on strategic opportunities that can extend
Affinia's core strengths, and on consideration of growth opportunities
beyond established channels.   According to McCormack, "Terry provides
us with a unique blend of business savvy and hands-on capabilities.  I
don't know of anyone in the aftermarket who could do a better job for us
in this role."

Prior to Affinia, Shively served as Vice President and General Manager
for Clevite Engine Parts, a division of Dana Corporation.  He had served
with Dana for 35 years in a variety of sales, product, marketing and
general management positions.  Shively will work out of Affinia's Ann
Arbor, Michigan headquarters and will report to McCabe.

            "We know we are headed in the right direction with this
realignment and fortification," McCabe said.  "We have recruited senior
talent and aligned our team as an organization focused on serving our
channel partners and customers through category management. These
changes will help us become a uniquely competitive company, and position
us for the future."

 

Affinia Group Inc. is a global leader in the on- and off-highway
replacement parts and service industry. In North America the Affinia
family of brands includes WIX(r) Filters, Raybestos(r) brand brakes and
Aimco(r) brake products, and McQuay-Norris(r) and Spicer(r) Chassis
parts. South American and European brands include Nakata(r), Urba(r) and
Quinton Hazell(r). Affinia has operations in 19 countries and more than
11,000 people dedicated to keeping the world's wheels turning. For more
information, visit www.affiniagroup.com <http://www.affiniagroup.com/> .

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