BRUSSELS, Belgium -- WABCO, the vehicle control systems business of American Standard Companies Inc. has announced that Mike Thompson, WABCO vice president of marketing and strategy, will assume additional responsibility for investor relations. WABCO is now preparing for a spin-off from American Standard and will become an independent, publicly traded company.

Thompson will continue to report to WABCO president Jacques Esculier. He will work closely with Bruce Fisher, vice president of strategic planning and investor relations for American Standard, leading up to the spin-off. Thompson will continue to be based in Brussels.

Thompson has served in his current position for more than two years. Prior to joining WABCO, he was vice president of marketing for Honeywell Aerospace in the U.S., where he was responsible for global marketing for the aerospace product portfolio. He had previously served as Honeywell's vice president of new business development and strategy for aerospace electronic systems, and also had full profit-and-loss responsibility for the company's aerospace information services business. Prior to joining Honeywell in 1999, Thompson was an engagement manager with McKinsey & Company, focusing on industrial sector strategy, marketing and operational effectiveness.

Thompson earned bachelors degrees in physics and mechanical engineering from Washington and Lee University and a Ph.D. in materials science from Northwestern University. He is also a graduate of McKinsey's executive MBA program.

For more information about WABCO, go to: http://www.wabco-auto.com