Michael Ehlerman has served as Chairman of Yuasa Battery, Inc. since 2000, as Chairman and CEO from October 2000 until October 2003, as Vice Chairman and CEO from 1998 until 2000, and as President and COO of Yuasa's predecessor from 1991 until 1998. He has also served as a Director of Yuasa Corporation (Japan) since June 1998. Ehlerman also served as Executive Vice President of Finance of Exide Corporation, one of the world's largest publicly-owned automotive and industrial battery manufacturers, and held other senior executive financial and accounting positions with Exide's predecessor entities from 1977 to 1991. During his long career in finance and accounting, he also served on the internal audit staff at General Electric Company and as assistant controller at United States Gypsum Company. Ehlerman was elected to Sovereign Bancorp's Board in September 2002, and has served as a director of Sovereign Bank since January 2001.