PRESS RELEASE
Johnson Controls Announces Reorganization of Automotive Systems Group
24 January 1997
Johnson Controls Redefines and Appoints Executives
In Automotive Systems Group and Creates Global Strategy Board
Leading supplier of automotive seating, interiors and batteries aligns
organization for continued global growth and customer focus
PLYMOUTH, Mich., Jan. 23 -- Johnson Controls, Inc.
today announced several changes to its Automotive Systems Group
that will extend its leadership as a world-class, global automotive systems
supplier. Changes include several senior management appointments, the
formation of a Global Strategy Board, and the inclusion of the company's
battery business as part of the Automotive Systems Group (ASG). The battery
business is being combined with ASG's seating systems and interior systems
businesses.
"We now have three excellent businesses in the Automotive Systems
Group, each with an unmatched commitment to excellence and exceeding customer
expectations. The new Global Strategy Board and our executive appointments
will facilitate our successful growth in total automotive systems throughout
the world," said John M. Barth, Executive Vice President.
Johnson Controls is the world's largest supplier of automotive
seating, having delivered more than nine million seat sets in 1996 to
automakers around the world. The company's interior systems capabilities were
expanded in recent months by the strategic acquisitions of interior systems
provider Prince Corporation of Holland, Michigan; and Roth Freres, a French
interior and seating systems company; as well as by the formation of its
Intertec instrument panel joint venture.
The battery business is a major supplier of automotive batteries
to the North American replacement and original equipment markets. It is also
a leading provider of batteries for the telecommunication and uninterruptible
power supply markets worldwide.
Key management changes announced today include:
Prince President John Spoelhof has been promoted to the position of
Chairman of Prince, a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson Controls. Mr.
Spoelhof will be responsible for enhancing relationships with current Prince
customers and supporting new long-term customer partnerships. He will also
serve on the Global Strategy Board as Johnson Controls pursues new
opportunities for automotive interior systems in Europe and emerging markets.
Mr. Spoelhof has been President of Prince since 1980, and has been associated
with the company for 27 years. In his new role, Mr. Spoelhof continues to
report to John Barth, Executive Vice President of Johnson Controls.
Michael Johnston has been appointed Vice President and General Manager of
ASG's Interior Systems Business, which oversees Prince, based in Holland,
Mich.; Intertec Systems, based in Southfield, Mich.; and Roth Freres'
headliner operations, based in Strasbourg, France. Mr. Johnston joined
Johnson Controls in 1989 and has served as Vice President and General Manager
of its battery business since 1993. Mr. Johnston will continue to report to
Mr. Barth.
Garry Krouse will remain in his position as Chief Operating Officer for
Prince -- and will assume expanded leadership responsibilities for creating
and implementing strategies to globalize ASG's interior systems business
including the company's instrument panel business, Prince's North American and
global expansion strategies and Roth Freres' interior trim operation in
Europe. He has been with Prince for 22 years and will now report directly to
Mr. Johnston.
Keith Wandell has been named Vice President and General Manager of the
company's battery business and a corporate officer of Johnson Controls, Inc.
He joined the company in 1989 and has most recently served as head of its
automotive battery unit. Mr. Wandell will continue to report to Mr. Johnston.
In a related move, Johnson Controls also announced the formation of a Global
Strategy Board, which will develop global business strategies, organizational
structures, and resource plans for ASG. The goal of the Board is to ensure
that ASG delivers excellent customer and shareholder value as it expands its
market leadership in automotive systems on a global scale. New global
strategies will be developed to exceed customer expectations in cost, quality,
delivery, and technology.
Members of the Global Strategy Board are: Jim Keyes, Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer; John Barth; John Spoelhof; Mike Johnston; Chip McClure, ASG
Vice President and General Manager North and South America; John Fiori; ASG
Vice President and General Manager Europe and Asia Pacific; and Rande Somma,
ASG Vice President of Worldwide Sales and Marketing.
In 1996, sales for the Automotive Systems Group, including seating,
interiors and battery, were $6.3 billion. The group employs more than 38,000
people at 139 facilities worldwide.
Johnson Controls is a global market leader in automotive systems
and controls. Through its Automotive Systems Group, it supplies seating
systems, interior systems and batteries to the automotive original equipment
and replacement markets. The Controls Group serves the nonresidential
buildings market with control systems and services, and integrated facility
management. Founded in 1885, the corporation operates from more than 500
locations worldwide. Johnson Controls (JCI) securities are listed on the New
York Stock Exchange.
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