Date: 1 August 2007

MIKE HOWARTH RETURNS TO KYB EUROPE

Mike Howarth has returned to KYB Europe GmbH as Managing Director.  He has spent the last five years as Senior Vice President of KYB America LLC, during which time KYB market share for the USA and Canada increased from 6% to almost 20%.

Howarth will be responsible for KYB aftermarket companies in Western Europe, as well as overall marketing, product strategy and operations.  Howarth has worked for KYB since 1997, previously as General Manager for the UK branch and then as Assistant General Manager for KYB Europe.

Hajime Sato, now President of KYB Europe says: “I am delighted that Mike will be working in Europe again.  He is a strong and experienced manager who will be a great asset to our region.”

Mike Howarth commented: “Working in the North American aftermarket has been a great learning experience.  I now look forward to helping our excellent organisation at KYB Europe expand further, and to strengthening the support given to our distributor and service provider customers in their efforts to increase KYB sales.”

KYB Europe GmbH is an aftermarket subsidiary of KYB Corporation, the world’s largest supplier of original equipment shock absorbers to vehicle manufacturers.

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