Date: December 2002

Mike Howarth has been appointed senior vice president of KYB America, and takes up his new post based in Chicago in December.

Until recently assistant general manager of Kayaba Europe and general manager of Kayaba UK, Mike established the Warrington based subsidiary company in 1997, moving from Monroe where he had been UK country manager. Prior to that he held various sales and marketing roles with Kellogg’s and Duracell.

Kayaba is looking to dramatically improve KYB’s position in America, Canada and Mexico, where it lies a weak third in the aftermarket behind Monroe and Gabriel. The American company has been established for 30 years, and employs 70 people.

"Kayaba is the world’s largest OE shock absorber manufacturer, and we’ll be trying to replicate the success of Kayaba Europe aftermarket, where we have now exceeded 15% market share," commented Mr Howarth.

Tony Parr, who was appointed assistant general manager during the summer, will now manage Kayaba UK.

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Kayaba Europe and KYB America are wholly owned subsidiaries of Kayaba Industry Company Ltd, a multinational organisation whose products are sold in over 100 countries. The company's primary expertise is in hydraulics technology, and established its initial hydraulics laboratory in 1919. Worldwide, Kayaba employs over 4,000 people and has annual sales in excess of $1.5 billion.

Kayaba produces a full line of KYB suspension products and replacement parts for use in cars, 4x4s and light commercial vehicles (LCVs), including KYB branded shock absorbers - gas-filled monotube and twin tube shocks, gas cartridges and gas struts - protection kits and suspension mounting kits, as well as a complete range of K-Flex replacement coil springs and K-Force lowering kits.

Ref: KYB09/2002