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DaimlerChrysler Announces New Communications Structure

16 March 1999

DaimlerChrysler With New Communications Structure

    AUBURN HILLS, Mich. and STUTTGART, Germany, March 16 --
DaimlerChrysler , the international transportation and services
company, has established a new communications department designed to meet the
international requirements of the new company that was founded through the
merger of Daimler-Benz and Chrysler Corporation in 1998.
    The international character of DaimlerChrysler's communications department
is reflected in the composition of the top team which includes a vast array of
international experience.  Three Americans and three Germans head the various
communications functions and report directly to Christoph Walther, head of the
global communications group of DaimlerChrysler.  By creating a team with equal
representation of direct reports in the two corporate headquarters, Auburn
Hills and Stuttgart, DaimlerChrysler achieves another important step towards
integration of the two companies.
    "With this new structure, we will cater to the vast information needs of
our many internal and external audiences in an efficient and speedy way," said
Christoph Walther, Senior Vice President Communications.  "The communications
staffs at both Chrysler and Daimler-Benz have been known for their
professional attitudes, accessibility and openness.  At DaimlerChrysler, we
are committed to continuing this tradition and further improve it.  We want to
serve our customers -- employees, journalists and the general public -- with
the best quality of communications in the industry."
    The importance of communicating the nine automotive brands of
DaimlerChrysler is reflected in a new communications department with global
product communications, headed by Steve Rossi, formerly with Mercedes-Benz of
North America.  Effective immediately Rossi is appointed Vice President and
based in Auburn Hills.  Wolfgang Inhester will continue to be responsible for
the worldwide Mercedes-Benz Product Communications along with Mercedes-Benz
Motorsports.  Jim Crawford heads the worldwide product communications of
Chrysler, Jeep(R), Dodge and Plymouth.  Max-Gerrit von Pein will be
responsible for the worldwide historical communications activities.  Romboud
Klinkert remains responsible for Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles Europe.
All will report to Steve Rossi.
    Roland Klein heads the global corporate communications department of
DaimlerChrysler, overseeing finance and strategy communications, automotive
business affairs communications and media relations in the fields of human
resources, social affairs, research, technology and environment, sports
communications and electronic media.  Lori McTavish will coordinate corporate
communications for North America, based in Auburn Hills.  In Europe and the
rest of the world Eckhard Zanger will be responsible for the coordination of
corporate communications.  Both report directly to Klein, also appointed Vice
President and formerly head of corporate media relations of Daimler-Benz,
based in Stuttgart.
    A newly established department, communications strategy, is headed by Tom
Kowaleski, previously with Chrysler Europe and now based in Stuttgart.  He
will oversee issue-management and crises-prevention as well as monitoring and
documentation for the new company in Stuttgart and Auburn Hills.
    The internal communications department is managed by Ulrike Becker in
Stuttgart and Tony Cervone in Auburn Hills.  This dual responsibility takes
into account the specific requirements of the different work forces worldwide.
Becker and Cervone are responsible for the various internal publications in
the DaimlerChrysler Group worldwide as well as for new media including the
Internet, Intranet and Business TV.
    Eckhard Strauss will continue to be responsible for corporate marketing,
including corporate design, corporate sponsoring, corporate services, event
management and corporate advertising.
    For debis, the services arm of DaimlerChrysler, communications will be
headed by Rainer Knubben, based in Berlin.  Christian Poppe will continue to
head communications for DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (Dasa), the aircraft and
defense subsidiary of the company, based in Munich.