* General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer William J. O'Brien retires after 23 years with the Company * Gerd T. Becht takes over as General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer (Chefsyndikus), DaimlerChrysler AG * Richard D. Houtman is named Vice President and General Counsel of DaimlerChrysler Corporation AUBURN HILLS, Mich. and STUTTGART, Germany, Oct. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Board of Management of DaimlerChrysler AG has appointed Gerd T. Becht (54), previously Vice President, General Counsel, Europe, Africa and Asia-Pacific, as the Group's new Chefsyndikus (General Counsel) reporting directly to the Chairman of the Board of Management, effective Oct. 1, 2006. As DaimlerChrysler AG General Counsel, Mr. Becht has responsibility for the Group's worldwide legal function. Richard D. Houtman is named Vice President and General Counsel of DaimlerChrysler Corporation, effective Oct. 1, 2006. Mr. Becht succeeds William J. O'Brien (63) who, in line with previously announced plans, has retired effective Oct. 1 after serving as General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer of Chrysler Corporation (now DaimlerChrysler Corporation) since 1987 and of DaimlerChrysler AG following the 1998 merger between Chrysler and Daimler-Benz to the present. Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management: "Bill O'Brien has been the General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer for Chrysler and DaimlerChrysler for an amazing 19 years during which he successfully handled every challenge imaginable for an automotive company including the 1998 merger of Chrysler and Daimler-Benz. His leadership, intelligence, integrity and very hard work are legendary at our Company. We will miss him enormously, but we all wish him and his family the very best for the future." DATASOURCE: Chrysler Group CONTACT: Shawn Morgan, +1-248-512-2692, cell: +1-248-760-2621, , or Michael Palese, +1-248-512-2682, cell: +1-313-930-1252, , both of Chrysler Group Web site: http://www.media.daimlerchrysler.com/ http://www.daimlerchrysler.com/

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