LAKE FOREST, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 15, 2000--Tenneco Automotive's board of directors has elected Mark P. Frissora as chairman of the board. He succeeds Dana G. Mead, who is retiring.

Frissora has been president and chief executive officer of Tenneco Automotive since April 1999 and will continue in this capacity. A veteran with more than 20 years experience in automotive related businesses, he joined Tenneco Automotive in 1996 and led the company's original equipment sector prior to becoming president. In November 1999 he oversaw the company's transition to an independent, publicly traded corporation with the spin off of the former Tenneco Inc. specialty packaging operations.

"I am most pleased to turn the leadership of this organization over to a person with the talents and experience that Mark possesses," said Mead. "He has proven his leadership abilities particularly by meeting the challenges of a transition year and positioning Tenneco Automotive for a successful future."

Prior to joining Tenneco in 1996, Frissora served as a senior executive for Aeroquip-Vickers Corporation. From 1987 to 1991, he held a number of management positions at Philips Lighting Company and began his business career with ten years at General Electric, specializing in product development.

"I feel fortunate to take on this responsibility at an exciting time for Tenneco Automotive, " said Frissora. "We are now fully focused on the global transportation industry and are developing a number of technically advanced products that will provide people with safer, quieter and cleaner vehicles throughout the world."

Frissora holds a B.A. degree from Ohio State University and has completed advanced studies at both the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School and the Thunderbird School of Management. He is a member of a number of professional organizations, including the Society of Automotive Engineers, the Automotive Original Equipment Manufacturers, the Auto Industry Board of Governors for the World Economic Forum and The Business Roundtable.

Tenneco Automotive is a $3.3 billion manufacturing company headquartered in Lake Forest, Ill., with 24,000 employees worldwide. Tenneco Automotive is one of the world's largest producers and marketers of ride control and exhaust systems and products, which are sold under the Monroe(R) and Walker(R) global brand names. Among its products are Sensa-Trac(R) and Reflex(TM)shock absorbers and struts, Rancho(R) shock absorbers, Walker(R) Quiet-Flow(TM)mufflers and DynoMax(TM)performance exhaust products, and Monroe(R) Clevite(TM) vibration control components.