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Collins & Aikman Corporation Names Rajesh K. Shah

26 July 1999

Collins & Aikman Corporation Names Rajesh K. Shah Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

    DETROIT, July 26 -- Collins & Aikman Corporation
announced today that Rajesh K. Shah has been named executive vice president
and chief financial officer.  Shah will replace J. Michael Stepp who will
assume other management duties within the Company.  The announcement was made
by Thomas E. Evans, chairman and chief executive officer of Collins & Aikman
Corporation.
    Shah joins Collins & Aikman from UT Automotive, Inc. where he was vice
president and chief financial officer.  Evans explained that Shah "is
extremely well-qualified to serve as the corporation's top financial officer.
At UTA he was instrumental in successfully transforming the company's separate
component businesses into an integrated operating system.  He is very familiar
with our customer base and experienced in working with issues that arise in
organizationally realigning a major automotive company."
    Collins & Aikman announced it's intent to restructure the Company in
February 1999.  "The addition of Shah to our operational team is very timely.
His experience in business turnarounds and company restructuring fit Collins &
Aikman's initiatives perfectly," said Evans.
    Prior to UTA, Shah held various top financial positions with Varity
Corporation including chief operating officer of the Dayton Walter Division
and chief financial officer of the Kelsey Hayes Group.
    "Shah brings nearly 20 years of experience within the automotive industry
to our organization," Evans explained. "He's an outstanding choice to become
our new CFO and continue to build on the solid foundation put in place by Mike
Stepp." Stepp, who guided the Company's major acquisition programs over the
past four years, has been named Executive Vice President Corporate Planning
and Development.
    Collins & Aikman Corporation is a global supplier of automotive interior
systems, including textile and plastic products, acoustics and convertible top
systems.  The Company employs more than 15,000 employees and operates 65
facilities in 12 countries, including 13 state of the art advanced automotive
design, development and testing centers, as well as several manufacturing
centers of excellence for automotive trim products.  Collins & Aikman combines
superior manufacturing capabilities, product quality, delivery and service
with industry leading design and styling capabilities and the most effective
NVH "quiet" technologies.