ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. — DURA Automotive Systems has named Jeff Stafeil executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective Dec. 1.

Stafeil was appointed to DURA’s board of directors in June of 2008 and will maintain his board seat. Nick Preda, DURA’s interim CFO, is appointed executive vice president of special projects reporting to president and chief executive officer, Tim Leuliette. In his new role, Preda will continue to support the recently announced corporate transition from regional to global business units.

DURA recently announced a comprehensive restructuring into four global product line divisions from seven regional business units, in order to further enhance its efficiency and ability to compete as one global company. In his role as CFO, Stafeil will ensure that DURA’s financial organization meets the needs of DURA’s growing global operations.

Stafeil was most recently chief financial officer and board member at the Klöckner Pentaplast Group, one of the world’s leading producers of films for packaging, printing and specialty applications. Prior to assuming that role, he was the executive vice president and CFO at automotive supplier Metaldyne Corp., an Asahi Tec Corp. company. Since 2006, he has served on the board of directors and is co-chairman of the audit committee for Meridian Automotive Systems.