Lear Corporation Appoints Executives to Manage Company's Asian Business

TOKYO (PROTEXT) - Lear Corporation (NYSE: LEA), one of the world's premier suppliers of automotive systems, today announced the appointment of key executives for the company's Asia Pacific Operations and Transnational Division. The two groups are part of the company's International Operations and together manage Lear business in the Asia Pacific region and with Japanese automakers operating in markets around the world. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19991020/DEW023-a http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19991020/DEW023-b http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19991020/DEW023-c) Randall Carron, Lear President - International Operations, has appointed Robert L. Bochenek as Vice President and General Manager of Lear's Transnational Division and Peter T. Kong as President of the company's Asia Pacific Operations. Both executives report to Carron, who is based in Sulzbach, Germany. Today the Transnational Division also announced the appointment of Yuta Takashima as Managing Director - Lear Japan. As Vice President and General Manager of the Transnational Division, Bochenek is responsible for overseeing Lear's business with Japanese automotive manufacturers on a worldwide basis. He is based in Dearborn, Michigan (USA), which is located near to Lear's World Headquarters and Technology Center complex in Southfield, Michigan. Bochenek joined Lear in 1984 and has held a variety of positions including Director - Operation Analysis during the launch of the Lear's just-in-time (JIT) plants in North America and Mexico. He later became involved with the company's first European seat operation and served as Vice President - Finance for Lear's Interior Trim and Metals Group. Bochenek most recently served as Lear's Vice President - Transnational Business Development. Prior to joining Lear, he served in management positions with Melody Farms Dairy, Hooker Chemical and Federal Screw Works. Bochenek earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan (USA). He and his wife, Ghada, live in Livonia, Michigan (USA) with their two daughters. Kong, as President - Asia Pacific Operations, which is based in Singapore, is responsible for overseeing Lear's business in the Asia Pacific region. Kong joined Lear in 1998 as Vice President and Managing Director of Lear's Asia Pacific Operations. He previously was President of MAPS International Inc., a firm specializing in merger and acquisitions, international business development, strategic planning and operations management. Kong's background also includes management positions with Magna International, Inc., Domtar Inc., and Esso Chemicals Canada. Kong earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Washington State University in Seattle, Washington (USA); a Masters of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin (USA); and a Masters of Business Administration degree in Finance and Marketing from the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario (Canada). He and his wife, Mary, reside in Singapore with their two sons. Takashima, in his new position as Managing Director - Lear Japan, is responsible for managing the company's Tokyo, Nagoya and Hiroshima offices. He is based in Tokyo and reports to Bochenek. Takashima joined Lear in May 1999 as Director of Marketing and Sales, serving the worldwide needs of Japanese automakers. He previously was employed with United Technologies Automotive since 1987, where he held various sales and marketing positions providing Japanese auto companies with wire harnesses, switches and electronics, steering wheels and interior systems. Takashima was a general manager for Tokai Rika/Europe, with sales and marketing responsibilities for the European market, where he spent more than eight years in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Takashima holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree and an Associated Masters degree in Electrical Engineering from the Nagoya Institute of Technology in Japan. He and his wife, Tomoko, and their son recently moved from Brighton, Michigan (USA) and currently reside in Yokohama City, Japan. Lear Corporation, a Fortune 200 company headquartered in Southfield, Michigan (USA), is one of the world's largest automotive suppliers, with 1998 proforma sales of more than $12 billion. The company's world-class products are designed, engineered and manufactured by more than 100,000 employees in over 300 facilities located in 33 countries. Information about Lear and its products is available on the Internet at http://www.lear.com ots Original Text Service: Lear Corporation Internet: http://www.newsaktuell.de Contact: Leslie A. Touma, Vice President-Corporate Relations, (USA) +248-447-7760, fax +248-447-1722, e-mail, ltouma@lear.com, or Karen M. Stewart- Spica, Director-Corporate Communications, +248-447-1651, fax +248-447-5944, e-mail, kstewart@lear.com, both of Lear Corporation Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi- bin/prnh/19991020/DEW023-a http://www.newscom.com/cgi- bin/prnh/19991020/DEW023-b http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19991020/DEW023-c PRN Photo Desk, 888-776-6555 or 201-369-3467 Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/518304.html or fax, 800-758-5804, ext. 518304 Web site: http://www.lear.com Subscribers please note that material bearing the slug "PROTEXT" is not part of CTK's news service and is not to be published under the "CTK" slug. 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