DURA Automotive Names Jeff Stafeil Chief Financial Officer

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich.--DURA Automotive Systems, Inc., today announced that Jeff Stafeil has been named executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective December 1, 2008.

Stafeil was appointed to DURA’s board of directors in June of 2008 and will maintain his board seat. Nick Preda, DURA’s interim CFO, is appointed executive vice president of special projects reporting to president and chief executive officer, Tim Leuliette. In his new role, Preda will continue to support the recently announced corporate transition from regional to global business units.

“We are pleased that Jeff Stafeil will become DURA’s chief financial officer,” said Leuliette. “He is a seasoned financial executive with extensive international automotive industry experience, which will help him successfully lead our finance organization and help make DURA a more globally competitive company.”

Commenting further, Leuliette said: “I also want to thank Nick Preda for his contributions as interim CFO, as DURA completed its financial restructuring. We will continue to benefit from his expertise, as he assumes new responsibilities.”

DURA recently announced a comprehensive restructuring into four global product line divisions from seven regional business units, in order to further enhance its efficiency and ability to compete as one global company. In his role as CFO, Stafeil will ensure that DURA’s financial organization meets the needs of DURA’s growing global operations.

Stafeil was most recently chief financial officer and board member at the Klöckner Pentaplast Group, one of the world’s leading producers of films for packaging, printing and specialty applications. Prior to assuming that role, he was the executive vice president and CFO at automotive supplier Metaldyne Corporation, an Asahi Tec Corporation company. Since 2006, he has served on the board of directors and is co-chairman of the audit committee for Meridian Automotive Systems.

About DURA Automotive Systems, Inc.

DURA Automotive Systems, Inc. is a leading independent designer and manufacturer of shifter systems, cable systems, seating control systems, engineered assemblies, structural and safety systems, modular glass systems and exterior trim systems for the global automotive industry. DURA’s operating divisions supply Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Brilliance, Chery, Chrysler, Daimler, Fiat, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mahindra, NedCar, NUMMI, Porsche, PSA Peugeot Citroen, Renault-Nissan, SAIC, Ssangyong, Suzuki, Tata, Toyota, Volkswagen and many leading Tier 1 automotive suppliers. DURA is headquartered in Rochester Hills, Michigan, USA. Information about DURA and its products can be found on the Internet at www.duraauto.com.