POMONA, CA, March 24, 1999 (PRIMEZONE) -- Keystone Automotive Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: KEYS) today announced the appointment of Keith M. Thompson, 58, to its board of directors, increasing board membership to six from five.
Charles Hogarty, President and Chief Executive Officer of Keystone, said, "We are extremely pleased to have Keith Thompson join the board of directors. His extensive experience and expertise in the automotive aftermarket industry will provide a valuable contribution to Keystone."
From 1986 through 1998, Mr. Thompson was the Chief Executive Officer of Republic Auto Parts, Inc. Republic was recently acquired by Keystone. Earlier in his career, he was Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Tenneco Automotive and a Vice President of General Automotive Parts, Inc.
Mr. Thompson also serves on the board of directors of Sirrom Capital (NYSE: SIR) and the Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA). He holds a B.A. in Economics from Milton College.
Keystone Automotive Industries, Inc. distributes its products in the United States primarily to collision repair shops through its 105 distribution facilities, of which 19 serve as regional hubs. Its product lines consist of automotive body parts, bumpers, auto glass and remanufactured alloy wheels, as well as paint and other materials used in repairing a damaged vehicle. These products comprise more than 19,000 stock keeping units that are sold to more than 25,000 repair shops throughout the nation.