Behr America Names Arneson Vice President, Operations

TROY, Mich., July 17, 2008 -- Dean Arneson has been named vice president - Operations at Behr America.

In his new position, Arneson will be responsible for all manufacturing locations, corporate logistics and corporate facilities management, as well as the implementation of the Behr production system.

Based in Dayton, Ohio, he also will continue his role as plant manager at Behr Dayton Thermal Products.

Arneson joined Behr in 1993 and led Behr's Climate Systems Division in Fort Worth, Texas, as its general manager. He also was the leader of the Truck HVAC Global product line in Fort Worth.

He transferred to Behr Dayton Thermal Products as vice president in 2002 at the beginning of a two-year joint venture with DaimlerChrysler that ended when Behr acquired full ownership of the Dayton Thermal Products plant in 2004 from the Chrysler Group.

Headquartered in Troy, Mich., Behr America has nearly 3,000 employees at facilities in Troy; Dayton, Ohio; Charleston, S.C.; Fort Worth, Texas, and Ramos Arizpe, Mexico.

Behr GmbH & Co. KG, Stuttgart, Germany, is a systems partner for the international automobile industry. A specialist in automotive air-conditioning and engine-cooling systems, the Behr Group is one of the world's leading manufacturers and suppliers of original equipment for passenger and commercial vehicles. Group sales in the 2006 business year were approximately $4.2 billion. Currently Behr employs about 18,600 people at 17 development and 30 production sites, and an additional 13 joint-venture locations worldwide.