Lear Corporation Appoints Executives to Manage Company's Asian Business

TOKYO (PROTEXT) - Lear Corporation (NYSE: LEA), one of theworld's premier suppliers of automotive systems, today announcedthe appointment of key executives for the company's Asia PacificOperations and Transnational Division. The two groups are part ofthe company's International Operations and together manage Learbusiness in the Asia Pacific region and with Japanese automakersoperating in markets around the world. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19991020/DEW023-a

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http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19991020/DEW023-c) Randall Carron, Lear President - International Operations, hasappointed Robert L. Bochenek as Vice President and GeneralManager of Lear's Transnational Division and Peter T. Kong asPresident of the company's Asia Pacific Operations. Bothexecutives report to Carron, who is based in Sulzbach, Germany. Today the Transnational Division also announced theappointment of Yuta Takashima as Managing Director - Lear Japan. As Vice President and General Manager of the TransnationalDivision, Bochenek is responsible for overseeing Lear's businesswith Japanese automotive manufacturers on a worldwide basis. Heis based in Dearborn, Michigan (USA), which is located near toLear's World Headquarters and Technology Center complex inSouthfield, Michigan. Bochenek joined Lear in 1984 and has held a variety ofpositions including Director - Operation Analysis during thelaunch of the Lear's just-in-time (JIT) plants in North Americaand Mexico. He later became involved with the company's firstEuropean seat operation and served as Vice President - Financefor Lear's Interior Trim and Metals Group. Bochenek most recentlyserved as Lear's Vice President - Transnational BusinessDevelopment. Prior to joining Lear, he served in managementpositions with Melody Farms Dairy, Hooker Chemical and FederalScrew Works. Bochenek earned a Bachelor of Science degree in BusinessAdministration 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 basedin Singapore, is responsible for overseeing Lear's business inthe Asia Pacific region. Kong joined Lear in 1998 as Vice President and ManagingDirector of Lear's Asia Pacific Operations. He previously wasPresident of MAPS International Inc., a firm specializing inmerger and acquisitions, international business development,strategic planning and operations management. Kong's backgroundalso includes management positions with Magna International,Inc., Domtar Inc., and Esso Chemicals Canada. Kong earned a Bachelor of Science degree in ChemicalEngineering from Washington State University in Seattle,Washington (USA); a Masters of Science degree in ChemicalEngineering from the University of Wisconsin in Madison,Wisconsin (USA); and a Masters of Business Administration degreein Finance and Marketing from the University of Toronto inToronto, Ontario (Canada). He and his wife, Mary, reside inSingapore with their two sons. Takashima, in his new position as Managing Director - LearJapan, is responsible for managing the company's Tokyo, Nagoyaand Hiroshima offices. He is based in Tokyo and reports toBochenek. Takashima joined Lear in May 1999 as Director of Marketing andSales, serving the worldwide needs of Japanese automakers. Hepreviously was employed with United Technologies Automotive since1987, where he held various sales and marketing positionsproviding Japanese auto companies with wire harnesses, switchesand electronics, steering wheels and interior systems. Takashimawas a general manager for Tokai Rika/Europe, with sales andmarketing responsibilities for the European market, where hespent more than eight years in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Takashima holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree and anAssociated Masters degree in Electrical Engineering from theNagoya Institute of Technology in Japan. He and his wife, Tomoko,and their son recently moved from Brighton, Michigan (USA) andcurrently reside in Yokohama City, Japan. Lear Corporation, a Fortune 200 company headquartered inSouthfield, Michigan (USA), is one of the world's largestautomotive suppliers, with 1998 proforma sales of more than $12billion. The company's world-class products are designed,engineered and manufactured by more than 100,000 employees inover 300 facilities located in 33 countries. Information aboutLear and its products is available on the Internet athttp://www.lear.com ots Original Text Service: Lear CorporationInternet: 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 LearCorporation Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19991020/DEW023-a

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PRN Photo Desk, 888-776-6555 or 201-369-3467 CompanyNews On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/518304.html or fax,800-758-5804, ext. 518304 Web site: http://www.lear.com

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