Freudenberg Appoints Smith to Senior Management Team

MANCHESTER, N.H., June 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In a move that continues to build professional strength among its senior managers, the Freudenberg Group today announced that Leesa A. Smith has been appointed to the company's Global Executive Team (GET) representing North American operations. Smith succeeds Dr. Mohsen Sohi who will assume the position of Speaker of the Management Board for the Freudenberg Group in July 2012.

The 13-member GET, established by Freudenberg in 2009, is charged with building regional cooperation across the company and in specialty areas including finance, technology, sales and marketing, environmental protection and occupational safety, and corporate shared services.

Smith is currently president of Freudenberg North America Limited Partnership (FNALP), overseeing the organization's Finance, Treasury, Insurance and Pension functions. FNALP is a holding company of 15 diverse businesses that provide products and services to industries ranging from automotive, aerospace and medical to chemical, oil and gas and construction.

Smith also oversees the Corporate Shared Services Department for Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies (Freudenberg-NOK). Freudenberg-NOK, headquartered in Plymouth, Mich., is a world-leading manufacturer of precision-engineered seals and elastomeric products for a variety of industries including automotive, aerospace, appliance, diesel engine, agriculture and construction, marine, off-highway equipment, energy and recreational vehicles. Smith and the Corporate Shared Services Department are based in Manchester, N.H.

Smith joined the Freudenberg Group in 1989 and has held positions with both the Freudenberg Group and Freudenberg-NOK. She was actively involved in establishing the company's first regional Corporate Services Division, headquartered in Manchester, N.H.  She holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from Plymouth State University and master's degree in international business administration from University of New HampshireWhittemore School of Business. Smith is also a certified public accountant.  Smith is married and has a son and daughter. She is the first woman appointed to the Freudenberg GET.

About the Freudenberg Group

Freudenberg is a family company offering its customers technically challenging product solutions and services. The Freudenberg Group is first and foremost a supplier specializing in seals and vibration control technology, nonwovens, filtration, lubricants and release agents as well as mechatronic products. The end-user can find modern Freudenberg household products in the shops under the brand names of vileda®, O´Cedar® and Wettex®. And especially for mid-size companies Freudenberg develops software solutions and IT services. The Freudenberg Group employed around 34,000 people in 59 countries and generated sales of more than U.S. $7.13 billion in 2010. For additional information, please visit www.freudenberg.com

About Freudenberg North America Limited Partnership.

Freudenberg North America Limited Partnership, the North American holding company for Freudenberg & Co. of Weinheim, Germany, owns a family of companies which operate 15 unique businesses. Together, these companies provide innovative products and solutions to customers in industries ranging from automotive, aerospace and medical to chemical, oil and gas and construction. Freudenberg North America companies develop and manufacture custom-engineered seals, vibration control technology, filters, nonwovens, release agents, lubricants, expansion joints, household products, and IT software and services.

SOURCE Freudenberg North America