OESA Announces 2006-2007 Board of Directors

TROY, Mich., Dec. 21, 2006 -- Neil De Koker, president of the Original Equipment Suppliers Association, recently announced the election of Jim McElya, chairman and CEO, Cooper Standard Automotive, as OESA chairman for the 2006-2007 term. Jacqui Dedo, president, Automotive, The Timken Company, and Jim Orchard, president, Faurecia, North America, will serve as vice chairpersons.

"This past year OESA has focused on enabling the automotive supplier industry to gain traction on collaboration," McElya said. "To this end, OESA has enjoyed unprecedented success reaching out to the OEMs to encourage improved involvement and collaboration with suppliers of all sizes. This accomplishment provides a firm foundation for OESA to serve members going forward.

"The OESA board rightfully views this as a "new beginning" that will enable unparalleled progress in addressing member concerns about their future and the future of our industry," McElya added. "I am fully committed, during my year as chairman, to focus significant energy on the importance of enabling collaborative customer/supplier relationships in the industry at all levels of the supply chain."

  OESA board of directors for 2006-2007 includes:
  * Joseph B. Anderson, Jr., Chairman & CEO, TAG Holdings, LLC
  * Dr. David E. Cole, Chairman, Center for Automotive Research
  * John Corey, President and Chief Executive Officer, Safety Components
    International, Inc.
  * Jim Davis, President and Chief Executive Officer, Guardian Automotive
  * Neil De Koker, President, OESA
  * Claude Z. Demby, President and Chief Operating Officer, L&L Products,
    Inc.
  * Larry A. Denton, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, DURA
    Automotive Systems, Inc.
  * George R. Hamilton, President, Dow Automotive
  * Linda Hasenfratz, Chief Executive Officer, Linamar Corporation
  * Alan C. Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Advanced
    Accessory Systems
  * Kim Korth, President and Chief Executive Officer, IRN. Inc.
  * Bill Kozyra, President and Chief Executive Officer, Continental
    Automotive Systems North America
  * Kathleen Ligocki, President and Chief Executive Officer, Tower
    Automotive, Inc.
  * Roy Link, President and Chief Executive Officer, Link Engineering Co.
  * Peter J. Marks, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Robert
    Bosch Corporation
  * Matt Matsushita, President and Chief Executive Officer, DENSO
    International America, Inc.
  * Robert E. McKenna, President and Chief Executive Officer, MEMA
  * George Perry, President and Chief Executive Officer, Yazaki North
    America, Inc.
  * Al J. Power, Chief Executive Officer, NRI Industries, Inc.
  * John Sanderson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Siemens VDO
    Automotive Corporation
  * Dr. Mohsen Sohi, President and Chief Executive Officer, Freudenberg-NOK
  * Wallace K. Tsuha, Jr., Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President,
    Saturn Electronics & Engineering, Inc.
  * Jane L. Warner, Group President of Finishing Systems, Illinois Tool
    Works Inc.

George Perry, president and chief executive officer, Yazaki North America, Inc. and 2005-2006 OESA Chairman stated, "A clear objective of mine as chairman was to create collaborative opportunities for suppliers of all sizes and expand our relationship with all the OEMs. OESA has made significant headway in this area by meeting with purchasing executives from all of the large carmakers. I am pleased with the results we have been able to achieve and I look forward to continued progress in the years ahead."

About OESA

Formed in August 1998, OESA provides a forum for automotive suppliers by addressing issues of common concern through peer group councils, serving as a reliable source of information and analysis, providing an industry voice on issues of interest and serving as a positive change agent to the automotive industry. With nearly 400 members having global automotive sales exceeding $300 billion, OESA represents more than 65 percent of North American automotive supplier sales. For more information, visit www.oesa.org. OESA is a market segment association of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association.