ANN ARBOR, MI – Affinia Group Inc. has announced the transformation of its marketing organization, including the creation of four new, high-level positions, first announced to the public last week. According to Terry McCormack, president and chief executive officer of Affinia, this move will place increased emphasis on global thinking and the use of category management to drive customer-facing decisions.

“This realignment of our marketing team is based on the changing demands of our channel partners and customers around the world,” McCormack said. “Facing a need to quickly become more market driven and customer centric, we have recruited seasoned veterans with specific skills into a number of key positions. The charge of this new team is to focus on customer input and appropriate product development as facilitators for an aggressive approach to category management.”

Jerry McCabe, formerly vice president of communications and marketing services, has been named to the newly created post of senior vice president of business architecture. In addition to providing overall direction for Affinia’s global marketing organization, McCabe will work closely with McCormack on business strategy development and global alignment of Affinia’s goals and resources. Filling other new positions are Jeff Stauffer, Bruce Reau and Terry Shively.

Stauffer joins Affinia as senior vice president of global group marketing. “Jeff’s expertise in category management, brand and product development, and global business is a perfect match for our plans,” McCormack said. “As our operations people complete our global restructuring in 2007, Jeff and his realigned marketing team will be aggressively implementing category management and building a foundation for the next phase of Affinia’s strategic plan.”

McCormack went on to say that Stauffer will be responsible for product management, pricing strategy, marketing, and stewardship of Affinia’s brands on a global basis.

Prior to joining Affinia, Stauffer was vice president of marketing for the consumer products division of Old World Industries. In that position, he managed all aspects of product development and brand management for a diverse portfolio of products. Stauffer, who will relocate with his wife to the Ann Arbor, MI, area, will report to McCabe.

Filling another new position, Bruce Reau has been hired as vice president of category management for Affinia’s Under Vehicle Group in McHenry, IL. To place the same emphasis on category management at Affinia’s Under Hood Group, Dave McColley, formerly vice president of marketing, has been named vice president of category management, Under Hood Group. McColley will be realigning his team to support Affinia’s new approach.

“Bruce Reau’s broad experience in category management, product development, and global sourcing fits perfectly with our plans to grow the brake and chassis categories for our channel partners,” McCabe said. “Putting Bruce together with Jeff Stauffer gives us New York Yankee style depth in category management.”

Prior to joining Affinia, Reau served as president of Pioneer Inc., a supplier of engine and driveline products to retail, traditional and specialty channels. At Pioneer he also held positions as vice president of marketing and national sales manager. Previous to Pioneer, Reau was with Valley Industries, where he served as regional sales manager, national accounts manager and finally national sales manager. Reau will be relocating with his family to the Chicago area and will report to Stauffer.

In his new position as vice president of market development, Terry Shively will concentrate on strategic opportunities that can extend Affinia’s core strengths, and on consideration of growth opportunities beyond established channels. According to McCormack, “Terry provides us with a unique blend of business savvy and hands-on capabilities. I don’t know of anyone in the aftermarket who could do a better job for us in this role.”

Prior to Affinia, Shively served as vice president and general manager for Clevite Engine Parts, a division of Dana Corp. He had served with Dana for 35 years in a variety of sales, product, marketing and general management positions. Shively will work out of Affinia’s Ann Arbor, MI, headquarters and will report to McCabe.

“We know we are headed in the right direction with this realignment and fortification,” McCabe said. “We have recruited senior talent and aligned our team as an organization focused on serving our channel partners and customers through category management. These changes will help us become a uniquely competitive company, and position us for the future.”

For more information, visit: http://www.affiniagroup.com.