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Cooper Industries Forms New Automotive Parts Sales and Marketing Group

4 February 1998

Cooper Industries Forms New Automotive Parts Sales and Marketing Group

    HOUSTON, Feb. 4 -- Cooper Industries, Inc.
announced today that it is integrating the U.S. aftermarket sales and
marketing functions of its two automotive businesses.  The combined unit will
result in enhanced customer service and lower costs.  This new aftermarket
team, to be headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, will provide Cooper's
automotive parts customers with a single source for the company's broad
product line.
    Edward J. O'Leary has been appointed executive vice president, sales
and marketing of the new unit, which combines Cooper's Moog Automotive and
Cooper Automotive aftermarket commercial functions.  O'Leary will report to
both John Collins, president of Moog Automotive, and Joel Campbell, president,
Cooper Automotive.  In this new position, O'Leary will have responsibility for
the Moog chassis and suspension line, Wagner brake, Champion spark plug,
Precision and Rolero drive line products, Anco windshield wiper products,
Wagner lighting, and Belden and PowerPath cable product lines serving the
entire United States.
    "This is a great opportunity for us to combine two high-quality sales
and marketing organizations to improve customer service, reduce administrative
costs and enhance our competitive position," said Gordon Ulsh, Executive Vice
President of Cooper's Automotive segment.
    Reporting to O'Leary are Maurice "Pete" Painter, vice president,
traditional distributor sales; Joe Pomaranski, vice president, retail and
special markets; William Johnson, director, customer service; Joe Dougherty,
director, sales administration; Clark McKissock, vice president, NAPA sales;
Don Dumm, director, APS sales; Doug Labac, director, CarQuest sales, and Carl
Smith, vice president, Moog World Trade.  A vice president of marketing for
the unit will be named later.  In addition, Jack Sheehan, Cooper Automotive's
vice president of sales and marketing, will defer his planned retirement to
stay on in a special role to ensure the successful integration of this new
unit.
    "Our industry continues to go through a number of complex distribution
channel shifts.  Our team of excellent, experienced leaders will ensure that
we adapt to best serve our customers.  In today's competitive market, a
customer needing headlights, for example, is very likely to need suppliers
for brakes, spark plugs and suspension parts.  We continue to position our
business to be the supplier of choice for these product lines.  Providing a
broad array of products through a single source is a major step toward our
goal of becoming North America's premier provider of automotive parts,"
Ulsh explained.
    Cooper Automotive markets products under such well-known brand names as
Anco windshield wiper blades and arms, Champion spark plugs and igniters,
PowerPath and Belden automotive wire and cable, and Wagner, Zanxx and Blazer
lighting products.  Cooper Automotive has 15 manufacturing facilities in the
United States and 14 international locations and approximately 9,000 employees
worldwide.  Moog Automotive's product line includes Moog steering and
suspension components; Precision universal joints and General Driveshaft
driveline products; Everco and Murray heating and air conditioning parts; and
Abex and Wagner brake components.  Moog Automotive has 18 manufacturing
facilities in the United States and one international location and employs
about 6,000 worldwide.
    Cooper Industries, with 1997 revenues of $5.3 billion, is a diversified,
worldwide manufacturer of electrical products, tools and hardware, and
automotive products.  Additional information about Cooper is available on
the company's World Wide Web site: http://www.cooperindustries.com.

SOURCE  Cooper Industries, Inc.