AST Research Names Larry Levinsohn as Vice President, Worldwide Human Resources.

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 25, 1997--AST Research Inc. Monday announced that Larry Levinsohn has joined the company as vice president, worldwide human resources.

In this newly-created position, Levinsohn, 48, will be responsible for the company's global employment, compensation, benefits and training activities. He will report to S.T. Kim, AST's president and chief executive officer.

Levinsohn previously served as vice president, human resources, at Murad Inc., an El Segundo, Calif.-based manufacturer of specialty skin care products. His computer industry experience includes a two-year position at Packard Bell Electronics, where he served in a similar senior executive HR capacity.

"Larry is expected to play a significant role in helping AST to achieve its goal of becoming one of the industry's top five PC manufacturers in the 21st century," said Kim. "We are committed to expanding AST's HR activities to assure that our global workforce is fully enabled to help AST reach its growth goals. We believe that Larry has the right mix of business acumen and people skills necessary to help us achieve this goal."

Recently becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, AST is focusing its energies on returning to a growth position by being the most responsive company in the PC industry. Toward this end, the company has implemented numerous sales, marketing and employee-based programs in which training and other HR activities play an integral role.

"My goal is to maintain the company's focus on the human element of HR," said Levinsohn. "As such, AST will continue its investments to ensure that my associates are properly trained, compensated and rewarded for their diligent efforts. In the short-term, we will focus on growing the ranks of specialized engineers at our Irvine headquarters, as well as further enhancing the skills of our sales force so that they may better serve our customers' varied needs."

AST Computer develops and markets a broad spectrum of desktop, mobile and server PC products that are sold in more than 100 countries worldwide. AST systems meet a wide range of business needs, from traditional corporate business applications to customized small business programs. Worldwide corporate headquarters is located at 16215 Alton Parkway, P.O. Box 57005, Irvine, Calif. 92619-7005. Telephone: [phone]. Fax: [phone]. Information about AST and its products can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.ast.com .

CONTACT: AST Research Inc., Irvine

Emory Epperson, 714/727-7958

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or

Camerone Welch-Thorson, 714/727-8858

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