Friday, June 02, 2006

YAHOO! Finance, June 2, 2006, Friday

Yahoo! Finance
Press Release
Source: Lear Corporation

Lear Corporation Names Marina Williams Chief Diversity Officer
Friday June 2, 9:24 am ET
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060602/def011.html?.v=46

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., June 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lear Corporation (NYSE: LEA - News) today named Marina Williams chief diversity officer, effective immediately. She will report directly to Lear President and Chief Operating Officer, Doug DelGrosso and maintains a coordinating responsibility with Lear Vice Chairman, Jim Vandenberghe.
As chief diversity officer, Williams succeeds Jim Comer as the person responsible for Lear's diversity initiatives. Comer, formerly president of North American Joint Ventures and Diversity, recently retired from Lear to establish Comer Holdings, a certified minority business enterprise. Williams is responsible for supporting the growth and development of Lear's minority joint ventures and supplier diversity activities in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. In addition, she will oversee the company's diversity-related initiatives for employees as well as Lear's support to the community.
"To be truly successful, companies must have an open and inclusive work environment and draw on the talents and experiences of all employees," said Doug DelGrosso. "Marina has done an excellent job as director of Diversity for Lear since June 2004, and I am confident she will continue to champion our commitment to sustaining a diverse workforce that values the contributions of everyone."
Williams joined Lear through the Automotive Industries acquisition in 1996 as part of the division's quality group and has held various positions in quality and program management. Her most recent assignment was as platform manager for the Chevy HHR integration program. Before joining Lear, Williams worked for the Nasdaq Stock Market in Washington, D.C.
Williams is a member of the board of directors for the Mercy Education Project and the Facilitation Partnership Board for the Detroit Executive Services Corps. She is also a member of the American Society of Employers Workforce Development Council.
A graduate of Hampton University in Hampton, Va., where she earned a bachelor of arts degree in English, Williams also earned a master of business administration degree from Michigan State University. Williams is certified in diversity management through Cornell University in New York and is an adjunct faculty member at the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations.
Lear Corporation is one of the world's largest suppliers of automotive interior systems and components. Lear provides complete seat systems, electronic products and electrical distribution systems and other interior products. With annual net sales of $17.1 billion, Lear ranks #127 among the Fortune 500. The Company's world-class products are designed, engineered and manufactured by a diverse team of 115,000 employees at 282 locations in 34 countries. Lear's headquarters are in Southfield, Michigan, and Lear is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol [LEA]. Further information about Lear is available on the Internet at http://www.lear.com .