DaimlerChrysler Services North America announced Jan. 13 the appointment of several key executives, effective January 2004, to further strengthen its relationship with its automotive brand partners and its position in the marketplace.

Paul Knauss is appointed chief financial officer reporting to Juergen Walker, president and CEO - DaimlerChrysler Services North America. In this position, Knauss is responsible for finance, controlling, accounting, information technology, tax and credit risk management in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Knauss replaces David Olsen who steps into his new position at the Chrysler Group as senior vice president - Controlling Chrysler.

Klaus Entenmann, formerly vice president - DaimlerChrysler Services Truck Finance, will replace Knauss as vice president - Chrysler Financial, reporting to Walker. In this position, Entenmann is responsible for all of the activities within Chrysler Financial in North America, as well as DaimlerChrysler Services Canada and DaimlerChrysler Insurance Company.

Richard Howard, formerly managing director - Chrysler Financial Canada, will replace Entenmann as vice president - DaimlerChrysler Services Truck Finance, reporting to Walker. In this position, Howard is responsible for directing all operations related to the financial services for commercial vehicles within the U.S.

Gino Cozza, formerly zone manager - Toronto and Atlantic Region for Chrysler Financial Canada, will replace Richard Howard as managing director - Chrysler Financial Canada, reporting to Richard Wardwell, President and CEO - DaimlerChrysler Services Canada. In this position, Cozza is responsible for the overall strategy and all operations of Chrysler Financial Canada, as well as the strategic and operational support of DaimlerChrysler Canada.

Brian Fulton, formerly senior manager - operations program management for Chrysler Financial in the U.S., will replace Gino Cozza as zone manager - Toronto and Atlantic Region for Chrysler Financial Canada, reporting to Cozza.

In this position, Fulton is responsible for coordinating the development of a comprehensive strategy for Chrysler Financial in the Toronto and Atlantic regions, coordinating all Regional Dealer Council activities, ongoing Business Center development and support and management of major strategic developments.

>b>About DaimlerChrysler Services North America LLC

DaimlerChrysler Services North America LLC provides brand-specific financing for automotive dealers' inventories and their retail consumers and does business as Chrysler Financial and Mercedes-Benz Credit.

As DaimlerChrysler Services Truck Finance it also finances commercial vehicles for affiliate products such as Freightliner, Sterling and Western Star. The company serves as the headquarters for the operations in the United States, Canada and Mexico and has more than 5,500 employees who manage a portfolio of $83 billion with nearly five million contracts.

DaimlerChrysler Services North America is a member of the DaimlerChrysler Services Group, headquartered in Berlin, Germany, which operates in 39 countries with an employee base exceeding 10,800 and a global portfolio of $118 billion.