TOLEDO, OH– While still waiting to complete its move to new ownership by Cypress Group, Dana Corp.’s Automotive Aftermarket Group (AAG) has announced several organizational changes. The changes affect both the under hood and under vehicle portions of the business. According to Terry McCormack, president of the group, the changes will “further streamline and strengthen our ability to lead the aftermarket in responsiveness, service and product offering.”

At the AAG’s Under Vehicle Group (Raybestos, Spicer, Aimco and McQuay-Norris), John Washbish has been appointed vice president and general manager, effective today, October 15. He also will continue to serve as president of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) for the entire Dana Automotive Aftermarket Group, a post he has held since the fall of 2003. With his added duties, Washbish will have operational responsibility for all Under Vehicle Group operations. In his ongoing CRM role, he will retain full responsibility for sales related activities for the Under Vehicle and Under Hood Groups.

“We need John’s management experience and leadership capabilities on the under vehicle side, but at the same time our CRM evolution must continue to receive full attention. This structure serves both purposes well,” said McCormack. “With the impending sale of our Group, we feel the time is right to make this change. It is supported by Dana, welcomed by the strong Under Vehicle Group management team, and fully endorsed by our future owners, The Cypress Group.”

Additionally the AAG announced that Al Alden, current CRM Controller and former controller for Wix Global Filtration, also is moving to the Under Vehicle Group to serve as its Controller. Alden is a CPA with extensive experience in all facets of accounting and financial management. In making the announcement, McCormack said, “Al’s expansive financial knowledge, keen business insight, and aftermarket savvy will be invaluable in the days of investment and growth that lie ahead for this business.”

Keith Wilson, currently Vice President & General Manager of Wix Global Filtration, has been appointed to the newly created position of Vice President & General Manager for the Under Hood Group, effective October 15, 2004. In his new role, Wilson will have full operations responsibilities for Wix and Beck/Arnley, the AAG’s specialty division serving the foreign nameplate market, and for Quinton Hazell , the Group’s European operations. Wilson earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Ball State University and a master’s degree from Bowling Green State University.

“Keith Wilson is unequivocally one of the best senior operations managers in all of Dana, and we are extremely fortunate to have him in our Group,” said McCormack. “In his four years at Wix he has repeatedly led the company to record performance. He was equally successful in previous assignments as Vice President & General Manager at Victor Reinz, and at Spicer Trailer Products before that.”

Tim Ciurlik, currently controller for Wix Filtration, has been appointed as the interim controller for the entire Under Hood Group. Ciurlik was a CPA with Deloitte & Touche before joining Dana. His prior jobs with Dana included high-level audit and plant controller positions. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Miami (of Ohio) University, and a master’s degree from Kellogg Graduate School of Management.

Jerry McCabe, currently vice president of marketing for the Under Hood Group, has been promoted to the position of Vice President, Communications & Marketing Services for the AAG, effective October 15, 2004. In this new role, reporting directly to McCormack, he will be responsible for external and internal communications, corporate marketing, market research, and commerce related data including product, pricing and catalog. Lead product management and marketing people at each operating unit will report to him, along with a lean corporate staff. A 35-year veteran of the aftermarket, McCabe is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University.

“Jerry was among the first in our industry to recognize the effect technology would have on our business, and the need for full and rich data to facilitate it,” said McCormack. “His relentlessness in leading, and sometimes pushing us in this direction has given us an edge in electronic cataloging with our ElectraCat™, product data management with DataMine™, and supply chain management with C.A.R.S. More importantly, it has positioned us extremely well for the future.”

According to McCormack, more changes to anneal and concenter his organization will be announced soon.

As was previously announced, upon completion of the acquisition, Dana AAG’s new company name will be “AFFINIA.”

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