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Lear's Touma Named One of the Automotive Industry's 100 Leading Women

29 August 2000

Lear Corporation's Leslie A. Touma Named One of the Automotive Industry's 100 Leading Women LEAR CORPORATION LESLIE A. TOUMA Leslie A. Touma, Vice President - Corporate Relations, Lear Corporation. (PRNewsFoto)[DM] SOUTHFIELD, MI USA 09/01/1999     
    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Aug. 29 Lear Corporation
today announced that Leslie A. Touma, Vice President - Corporate Relations,
has been named one of the 100 Leading Women in the North American Automotive
Industry by Automotive News.  Touma will be featured with other award winners
in a special section of the publication's September 11, 2000, issue.
    (Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990901/DEW003-a )
    Winning candidates are recognized for having successfully risen to
decision-making positions within their automotive company or field, and can
serve as role models for other women.  Automotive News will honor the 100
leading women in the North American automotive industry at a September 19
awards dinner in Dearborn, Mich.
    Since joining Lear in 1994, Touma has increased the global visibility of
Lear by expanding the automotive supplier's media relations both in Europe and
North America.  Most noteworthy was the tremendous media interest in Lear's
highly acclaimed TransG(TM) trans-generational vehicle, featured on the front
page of the New York Times in 1999.  In addition, under Touma's leadership
Lear has dramatically increased its participation in marketing, trade show,
governmental and charitable activities.
    "Leslie has played a pivotal role in furthering the public awareness of
Lear as we have advanced to the sixth fastest-growing company in the Fortune
500 based on revenue growth over the past ten years," said Kenneth L. Way,
Lear's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  "The level of respect Leslie has
with business, government, and civic leaders has been a tremendous advantage
for Lear, and we are pleased to see her given the recognition she deserves as
one of the automotive industry's leading women."
    "I'm honored to be included among a group of such highly distinguished
women," said Touma.  "I think it's a great time for women in the automotive
industry.  If you analyze statistics, women yield tremendous influence in
terms of automotive purchases and have growing spending power, which means
this is a market segment which deserves greater attention."
    A graduate of the master's program at Johns Hopkins University's School of
Advanced International Studies, Touma is heavily involved in civic and
charitable organizations.  In addition to her duties at Lear, she is currently
president of the Canada-U.S. Business Association and regional co-chair for
the Bush Presidential Campaign in Michigan.  She also sits on the boards of
several organizations, including the Women's Economic Club, Music Hall Center
for the Performing Arts and the Boys and Girls Club of South Oakland County.