LIVONIA, MI-TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. has appointed its president and CEO John C. Plant has been appointed to the additional post of chairman of the board, effective immediately. Plant has held the position of president and chief executive officer and has been serving as a member of TRW's board since 2003.

Plant replaces Neil P. Simpkins, senior managing director of The Blackstone Group, who resigned as chairman, but will remain on the board of directors and assume the newly created position of lead director. Simpkins was appointed chairman of the board in 2003 at the time of Blackstone's majority purchase of the company. Given Blackstone's reduced ownership position, the board of directors agreed that the timing for this transition was appropriate.