EXHIBIT 10.20 - EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN METALDYNE CORPORATION AND GEORGE
THANOPOULOS.

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     This Agreement is made by and between Metaldyne Corporation, a Delaware
corporation ("Company") and George Thanopoulos (hereinafter "Executive") October
1, 2001 ("Effective Date"). In order to induce Executive to serve as its
President, Engine Group, Company enters into this Agreement with Executive to
set out the terms and conditions that will apply to Executive's employment with
Company. Executive is willing to accept such employment and assignment and to
perform services on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth. It is
therefore hereby agreed by and between the parties as follows:

     SECTION 1 - EMPLOYMENT.

     (a)  Company employs Executive as its President, Engine Group. In this
          capacity, Executive shall report to the Chief Executive Officer
          ("CEO"). Executive accepts employment in accordance with this
          Agreement and agrees to devote his full business time and efforts to
          the performance of his duties and responsibilities hereunder.

     (b)  Nothing in this Agreement shall preclude Executive from engaging in
          charitable and community affairs, from managing any passive investment
          (i.e., an investment with respect to which Executive is in no way
          involved with the management or operation of the entity in which
          Executive has invested) made by him in publicly traded equity
          securities or other property (provided that no such investment may
          exceed five percent (5%) of the equity of any entity, without the
          prior approval of the Board of Directors of Metaldyne Corporation (the
          "Board")), or from serving, subject to the prior approval of the
          Board, as a member of boards of directors or as a trustee of any other
          corporation, association or entity, to the extent that any of the
          above activities do not conflict with any provision of this Agreement.

     SECTION 2 - TERM OF EMPLOYMENT. Executive's term of employment under this
Agreement ("Term of Employment") shall commence on the Effective Date and,
subject to the terms hereof, shall terminate on the earlier of: December 31,
2003 ("Initial Period"); or the date that either party terminates Executive's
employment under this Agreement; provided that subsequent to the Initial Period,
the Term of Employment shall automatically renew each January for one year
("Renewal Period"), unless Company delivers to Executive or Executive delivers
to Company written notice at least thirty (30) days in advance of the expiration
of the Initial Period or any Renewal Period, that the Term of Employment shall
not be extended, in which case the Term of Employment shall end at the end of
the Year in which such notice was delivered and shall not be further extended
except by written agreement of Company and Executive. The expiration of the


                                       1



Term of Employment under this Agreement shall not be a termination of this
Agreement to the extent that other provisions of this Agreement by their terms
survive the Term of Employment. For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Year"
shall mean the twelve-month period commencing on the Effective Date and each
anniversary of the Effective Date.

     SECTION 3 - COMPENSATION.

     (a)  Salary. During the Initial Period, Company shall pay Executive at the
          rate of Two Hundred Seventy Thousand Four Hundred Dollars ($270,400)
          per annum ("Base Salary"). Base Salary shall be payable in accordance
          with the ordinary payroll practices of Company and shall be subject to
          all applicable federal, state and local withholding and reporting
          requirements. Base Salary may be adjusted by the President and CEO
          during the Term of Employment.

     (b)  Annual Value Creation Plan ("AVCP"). Executive shall be eligible to
          participate in the AVCP, a copy of which has been provided to
          Executive, subject to all the terms and conditions of such plan, as
          such plan may be modified from time to time.

     SECTION 4 - EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.

     (a)  Employee Retirement Benefit Programs, Welfare Benefit Programs, Plans
          and Practices. Company shall provide Executive with coverage under any
          retirement benefit programs, welfare benefit programs, plans and
          practices, that Company makes available to its senior executives, in
          accordance with the terms thereof, as such programs, plans and
          practices may be amended from time to time in accordance with their
          terms.

     (b)  Vacation. Executive shall be entitled to twenty (20) business days of
          paid vacation each calendar year, which shall be taken at such times
          as are consistent with Executive's responsibilities hereunder.
          Vacation days shall be subject to the Company's general policies
          regarding vacation days, as such policies may be modified from time to
          time.

     (c)  Perquisites. During Executive's employment hereunder, Company shall
          provide Executive, subject to review and approval by the President and
          CEO, with such additional perquisites as are generally available to
          similarly-situated executives.

     (d)  Stock Options. Executive shall be eligible to participate in the
          Metaldyne Corporation 2001 Long Term Equity Incentive Plan in
          accordance with


                                        2



          the terms and conditions of such plan and any grant agreements
          thereunder.

     SECTION 5 - EXPENSES. Subject to prevailing Company policy or such
guidelines as may be established by the CEO or his delegee, Company will
reimburse Executive for all reasonable expenses incurred by Executive in
carrying out his duties.

     SECTION 6 - TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. The respective rights and
responsibilities of the parties to this Agreement notwithstanding, Executive
remains an employee-at-will, and his Term of Employment may be terminated by
either party at any time for any reason by written notice.

     (a)  Termination Without Cause or for Good Reason. If Executive's
          employment is terminated during the Term of Employment by Company for
          any reason other than Cause (as defined in Section 6(c) hereof),
          Disability (as defined in Section 6(e) hereof) or death, or if
          Executive's employment is terminated by Executive for Good Reason (as
          defined in Section 6(a)(2) hereof), then Company shall pay Executive
          the Severance Package. Any termination of employment that results from
          a notice of nonrenewal given in accordance with Section 2 of this
          Agreement shall not be a termination under this Section 6(a) but shall
          instead be a termination under Section 6(b) below. Likewise, a
          termination by Executive without Good Reason shall be a termination
          under Section 6(b) below and not a termination under this Section
          6(a).

          (1)  For purposes of this Agreement, "Severance Package" shall mean:

               (A)  Base Salary continuation for twenty-four (24) months at
                    Executive's annual Base Salary rate in effect on the date of
                    termination, subject to all applicable federal, state and
                    local withholding and reporting requirements. These salary
                    continuation payments shall be paid in accordance with usual
                    Company payroll practices;

               (B)  A bonus equal to two hundred percent (200%) of the target
                    bonus opportunity under AVCP, payable in equal installments
                    over the twenty-four (24) month period described in Section
                    6(a)(1)(A) above, subject to the same withholding and
                    reporting requirements. In addition, Executive shall receive
                    the bonus for the most recently completed bonus term if a
                    bonus has been declared for such term but not paid, and a
                    pro rata bonus for the year of termination through the date
                    of termination calculated at one hundred percent (100%) of
                    the bonus opportunity for target performance for that term,
                    multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the
                    number of days that Executive was employed during such bonus
                    term and the


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                    denominator of which is 365. The prorated bonus for the
                    final year shall be paid in a single sum within ten (10)
                    days of the termination of Executive's employment with
                    Company. Any unpaid bonus shall be paid in accordance with
                    customary practices for payment of bonuses under AVCP; and

               (C)  Continuation of benefits under any life, group medical, and
                    dental insurance benefits substantially similar to those
                    which Executive was receiving immediately prior to
                    termination of employment until the earlier of:

                    (i)  the end of the twenty-four (24) month period following
                         Executive's termination of employment, or

                    (ii) the date on which Executive becomes eligible to receive
                         any benefits under any plan or program of any other
                         employer.

                    The continuing coverage provided under this Section
                    6(a)(1)(C) is subject to Executive's eligibility to
                    participate in such plans and all other terms and conditions
                    of such plans, including without limitation, any employee
                    contribution requirements and Company's ability to modify or
                    terminate such plans or coverages. Company may satisfy this
                    obligation in whole or in part by paying the premium
                    otherwise payable by Executive for continuing coverage under
                    Section 601 et seq. of the Employee Retirement Income
                    Security Act of 1974, as it may be amended or replaced from
                    time to time. If Executive is not eligible for continued
                    coverage under one of the Company-provided benefit plans
                    noted in this paragraph (C) that he was participating in
                    during his employment, Company shall pay Executive the cash
                    equivalent of the insurance cost for the duration of the
                    applicable period at the rate of the Company's cost of
                    coverage for Executive's benefits as of the date of
                    termination. Any obligation to pay the cash equivalent of
                    such cost under this item may be settled, at Company's
                    discretion, by a lump-sum payment of any remaining premiums.

          (2)  For purposes of this Agreement, a termination of employment by
               Executive for "Good Reason" shall be a termination by Executive
               following the occurrence of any of the following events unless
               Company has cured as provided below:


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               (A)  A material and permanent diminution in Executive's duties or
                    responsibilities;

               (B)  A material reduction in the aggregate value of Base Salary
                    and bonus opportunity; or

               (C)  A permanent reassignment of Executive to another primary
                    office, or a relocation of the Company office that is
                    Executive's primary office, unless Executive's primary
                    office following such reassignment or relocation is within
                    thirty-five (35) miles of Executive's primary office before
                    the reassignment or relocation or Executive's permanent
                    residence on the date of the reassignment or relocation.

               Executive must notify Company of any event constituting Good
               Reason within one hundred twenty (120) days after Executive
               becomes aware of such event or such event shall not constitute
               Good Reason for purposes of this Agreement provided that Company
               shall have fifteen (15) days from the date of such notice to cure
               the Good Reason event. Executive cannot terminate his employment
               for Good Reason if Cause exists at the time of such termination.
               A termination by Executive following cure shall not be a
               termination for Good Reason. A failure of Executive to notify
               Company after the first occurrence of an event constituting Good
               Reason shall not preclude any subsequent occurrences of such
               event (or similar event) from constituting Good Reason.

     (b)  Voluntary Termination by Executive; Expiration of Employment Term. If
          Executive terminates his employment with Company without Good Reason,
          or if the Employment Term expires following notice of nonrenewal by
          either party under Section 2, then Company shall pay Executive his
          accrued unpaid Base Salary through the date of termination and the
          AVCP award for the most recently completed year if an award has been
          declared for such year but not paid. The accrued unpaid Base Salary
          amounts payable under this Section 6(b) shall be payable in a lump sum
          within ten (10) days of termination of employment. Any accrued unpaid
          bonus amounts payable under this Section 6(b) shall be payable in
          accordance with customary practices for payment of bonuses under AVCP.
          No prorated bonus for the year of termination shall be paid. Any other
          benefits under other plans and programs of Company in which Executive
          is participating at the time of Executive's termination of employment
          shall be paid, distributed, settled, or shall expire in accordance
          with their terms, and Company shall have no further obligations
          hereunder with respect to Executive following the date of termination
          of employment.


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     (c)  Termination for Cause. If Executive's employment is terminated for
          Cause, Company shall pay Executive his accrued but unpaid Base Salary
          through the date of the termination of employment, and no further
          payments or benefits shall be owed. The accrued unpaid Base Salary
          amounts payable under this Section 6(c) shall be payable in a lump sum
          within ten (10) days of termination of employment. As used herein, the
          term "Cause" shall be limited to:

          (1)  Executive's conviction of or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to
               a crime constituting a felony under the laws of the United States
               or any state thereof or any other jurisdiction in which Company
               conducts business;

          (2)  Executive's willful misconduct in the performance of his duties
               to Company;

          (3)  Executive's willful and continued failure to follow the
               instructions of Company's Board or CEO; or

          (4)  Executive's willful and/or continued neglect of duties (other
               than any such neglect resulting from incapacity of Executive due
               to physical or mental illness);

          provided, however, that Cause shall arise under items (3) or (4) only
          following ten (10) days written notice thereof from Company which
          specifically identifies such failure or neglect and the continuance of
          such failure or neglect during such notice period. Any failure by
          Company to notify Executive after the first occurrence of an event
          constituting Cause shall not preclude any subsequent occurrences of
          such event (or a similar event) from constituting Cause.

     (d)  Termination Following a Change of Control. In the event Executive's
          employment with Company terminates by reason of a Qualifying
          Termination (as defined below) within three (3) years after a Change
          of Control of Company (as defined below), then, in lieu of the
          Severance Package, and subject to the limitations described in Section
          7 below, the Company shall provide Executive the following termination
          benefits:

          (1)  Termination Payments. Company shall pay Executive:

               (A)  A single sum payment equal to three hundred percent (300%)
                    of Executive's annual Base Salary rate in effect on the date
                    of termination, subject to all applicable federal, state and
                    local withholding and reporting requirements. This
                    single-sum payment shall be paid within ten (10) days of
                    termination of employment;


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               (B)  A bonus equal to three hundred percent (300%) of the target
                    bonus opportunity under AVCP. In addition, Executive shall
                    receive the bonus for the most recently completed bonus term
                    if a bonus has been declared for such term but not paid, and
                    a pro rata bonus for the year of termination through the
                    date of termination calculated at one hundred percent (100%)
                    of the bonus opportunity for target performance for that
                    term, multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the
                    number of days that Executive was employed during such bonus
                    term and the denominator of which is 365. The prorated bonus
                    for the final year shall be paid as a single sum within ten
                    (10) days of termination of employment. Any unpaid bonus
                    shall be paid in accordance with customary practices for
                    payment of bonuses under AVCP.

               All payments under this Section 6(d), however, are subject to the
               timing rules, calculations and adjustments described in Sections
               7 and 8.

          (2)  Benefits Continuation. Executive shall continue to receive life,
               group medical and dental insurance benefits substantially similar
               to those which Executive was receiving immediately prior to the
               Qualifying Termination until the earlier of:

               (A)  the end of the thirty-six (36) month period following
                    Executive's termination of employment, or

               (B)  the date on which Executive becomes eligible to receive any
                    benefits under any plan or program of any other employer.

               The continuing coverage provided under this Section 6(d)(2) is
               subject to Executive's eligibility to participate in such plans
               and all other terms and conditions of such plans, including
               without limitation, any employee contribution requirements and
               Company's ability to modify or terminate such plans or coverages.
               Company may satisfy this obligation in whole or in part by paying
               the premium otherwise payable by Executive for continuing
               coverage under Section 601 et seq. of the Employee Retirement
               Income Security Act of 1974, as it may be amended or replaced
               from time to time. If Executive is not eligible for continued
               coverage under one of the Company-provided benefit plans noted in
               this paragraph (2) that he was participating in during his
               employment, Company shall pay Executive the cash equivalent of
               the insurance cost for the duration of the applicable period at
               the rate of the Company's cost of coverage for Executive's
               benefits as


                                        7



               of the date of termination. Any obligation to pay the cash
               equivalent of such cost of coverage under this item may be
               settled, at Company's discretion, by a lump-sum payment of any
               remaining premiums.

          (3)  Qualifying Termination. For purposes of this Agreement, the term
               "Qualifying Termination" means a termination of Executive's
               employment with the Company for any reason other than:

               (A)  death;

               (B)  Disability, as defined herein;

               (C)  Cause, as defined herein; or

               (D)  A termination by Executive without Good Reason, as defined
                    herein.

          (4)  Change of Control Defined. For purposes of this Agreement, a
               "Change of Control" means the first of the following events to
               occur following the date hereof:

               (A)  The sale, lease, or transfer in one or a series of related
                    transactions (I) of eighty percent (80%) or more of the
                    consolidated assets of Company and its subsidiaries or (II)
                    of seventy-five percent (75%) or more of Capital Stock of
                    Company held by the Heartland Entities as of November 28,
                    2000 (appropriately adjusted for stock splits, combinations,
                    subdivisions, stock dividends and similar events) to any
                    Person or group of persons other than an affiliate of the
                    Heartland Entities, whether directly or indirectly or by way
                    of any merger, consolidation or other business combination
                    or purchase of beneficial ownership or otherwise. The term
                    "group of persons" shall have the meaning of the term
                    "person" set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the
                    Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("1934 Act") or any similar
                    successor provision, and the rules, regulations and
                    interpretations promulgated thereunder. The term "beneficial
                    ownership" shall have the meaning defined under Rule 13d-3
                    under the 1934 Act or any similar successor rules,
                    regulations and interpretations promulgated thereunder.

               (B)  The date on which the individuals who constitute Company's
                    Board of Directors on the date of this agreement, and any
                    new Directors who are hereafter designated by the Heartland
                    entities cease, for any reason,


                                        8



                    to constitute at least a majority of the members of the
                    Board.

               Except as otherwise indicated herein, the definition of all
               capitalized terms in this Section 6(d)(4) is set forth in the
               Shareholders Agreement by and among MascoTech, Inc., Masco
               Corporation, Richard Manoogian, The Richard and Jane Manoogian
               Foundation, and the Heartland Entities, et al., dated November
               28, 2000 (the "Shareholders Agreement").

     (e)  Disability. In the event that Executive is unable to perform his
          duties under this Agreement on account of a disability which continues
          for one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days or more, or for an
          aggregate of one hundred eighty (180) days in any period of twelve
          (12) months, Company may, in its discretion, terminate Executive's
          employment hereunder. Company's obligation to make payments under this
          Agreement shall, except for earned but unpaid Base Salary and AVCP
          awards, cease on the first to occur of (i) the date that is six (6)
          months after such termination or (ii) the date Executive becomes
          entitled to benefits under a Company-provided long-term disability
          program. For purposes of this Agreement, "Disability" shall be defined
          by the terms of Company's long-term disability policy, or, in the
          absence of such policy, as a physical or mental disability that
          prevents Executive from performing substantially all of his duties
          under this Agreement and which is expected to be permanent. Company
          may only terminate Executive on account of Disability after giving due
          consideration to whether reasonable accommodations can be made under
          which Executive is able to fulfill his duties under this Agreement.
          The commencement date and expected duration of any physical or mental
          condition that prevents Executive from performing his duties hereunder
          shall be determined by a medical doctor selected by Company. Company
          may, in its discretion, require written confirmation from a physician
          of Disability during any extended absence.

     (f)  Death. In the event of Executive's death during the Term of
          Employment, all obligations of Company to make any further payments,
          other than an obligation to pay any accrued but unpaid Base Salary to
          the date of death and any accrued but unpaid bonuses under AVCP to the
          date of death, shall terminate upon Executive's death.

     (g)  No Duplication of Benefits. Notwithstanding any provision of this
          Agreement to the contrary, if Executive's employment is terminated for
          any reason, in no event shall Executive be eligible for payments under
          more than one subsection of this Section 6.

     (h)  Payments Not Compensation. Any participation by Executive in, and any
          terminating distributions and vested rights under, Company-sponsored
          retirement or savings plans, regardless of whether such plans are
          qualified


                                        9



          or nonqualified for tax purposes, shall be governed by the terms of
          those respective plans. For purposes of determining benefits and the
          amounts to be paid to Executive under such plans, any salary
          continuation or severance benefits other than salary or bonus accrued
          before termination shall not be compensation for purposes of accruing
          additional benefits under such plans.

     (i)  Executive's Duty to Provide Materials. Upon the termination of the
          Term of Employment for any reason, Executive or his estate shall
          surrender to Company all correspondence, letters, files, contracts,
          mailing lists, customer lists, advertising material, ledgers,
          supplies, equipment, checks, and all other materials and records of
          any kind that are the property of Company or any of its subsidiaries
          or affiliates, that may be in Executive's possession or under his
          control, including all copies of any of the foregoing.

     SECTION 7 - CAP ON PAYMENTS.

     (a)  General Rules. The Internal Revenue Code (the "Code") may place
          significant tax burdens on Executive and Company if the total payments
          made to Executive due to a Change of Control exceed prescribed limits.
          For example, if Executive's "Base Period Income" (as defined below) is
          $100,000, Executive's limit or "Cap" is $299,999. If Executive's
          "Total Payments" exceed the Cap by even $1.00, Executive is subject to
          an excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code of 20% of all amounts
          paid to Executive in excess of $100,000. In other words, if
          Executive's Cap is $299,999, Executive will not be subject to an
          excise tax if Executive receives exactly $299,999. If Executive
          receives $300,000, Executive will be subject to an excise tax of
          $40,000 (20% of $200,000). In order to avoid this excise tax and the
          related adverse tax consequences for Company, by signing this
          Agreement, Executive will be agreeing that, subject to the exception
          noted below, the present value of Executive's Total Payments will not
          exceed an amount equal to Executive's Cap.

     (b)  Special Definitions. For purposes of this Section, the following
          specialized terms will have the following meanings:

          (1)  "Base Period Income". "Base Period Income" is an amount equal to
               Executive's "annualized includable compensation" for the "base
               period" as defined in Sections 280G(d)(1) and (2) of the Code and
               the regulations adopted thereunder. Generally, Executive's
               "annualized includable compensation" is the average of
               Executive's annual taxable income from Company for the "base
               period," which is the five calendar years prior to the year in
               which the Change of Control occurs. These concepts are
               complicated and technical and all of the rules set forth in the
               applicable regulations apply for purposes of this Agreement.


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          (2)  "Cap" or "280G Cap". "Cap" or "280G Cap" shall mean an amount
               equal to 2.99 times Executive's "Base Period Income." This is the
               maximum amount which Executive may receive without becoming
               subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or
               which Company may pay without loss of deduction under Section
               280G of the Code.

          (3)  "Total Payments". The "Total Payments" include any "payments in
               the nature of compensation" (as defined in Section 280G of the
               Code and the regulations adopted thereunder), made pursuant to
               this Agreement or otherwise, to or for Executive's benefit, the
               receipt of which is contingent on a Change of Control and to
               which Section 280G of the Code applies.

     (c)  Calculating the Cap and Adjusting Payments. If Company believes that
          these rules will result in a reduction of the payments to which
          Executive is entitled under this Agreement, it will so notify
          Executive as soon as possible. Company will then, at its expense,
          retain a "Consultant" (which shall be a law firm, a certified public
          accounting firm, and/or a firm of recognized executive compensation
          consultants) to provide an opinion or opinions concerning whether
          Executive's Total Payments exceed the limit discussed above. Company
          will select the Consultant. At a minimum, the opinions required by
          this Section must set forth the amount of Executive's Base Period
          Income, the present value of the Total Payments and the amount and
          present value of any excess parachute payments. If the opinions state
          that there would be an excess parachute payment, Executive's payments
          under this Agreement will be reduced to the extent necessary to
          eliminate the excess. Executive will be allowed to choose the payment
          that should be reduced or eliminated, but the payment Executive
          chooses to reduce or eliminate must be a payment determined by such
          Consultant to be includable in Total Payments. Executive's decision
          shall be in writing and delivered to Company within thirty (30) days
          of Executive's receipt of such opinions. If Executive fails to so
          notify Company, Company will decide which payments to reduce or
          eliminate. If the Consultant selected to provide the opinions referred
          to above so requests in connection with the opinion required by this
          Section, a firm of recognized executive compensation consultants
          selected by Company shall provide an opinion, upon which such
          Consultant may rely, as to the reasonableness of any item of
          compensation as reasonable compensation for services rendered before
          or after the Change of Control. If Company believes that Executive's
          Total Payments will exceed the limitations of this Section, it will
          nonetheless make payments to Executive, at the times stated above, in
          the maximum amount that it believes may be paid without exceeding such
          limitations. The balance, if any, will then be paid after the opinions
          called for above have been received. If the amount paid to


                                       11



          Executive by Company is ultimately determined, pursuant to the opinion
          referred to above or by the Internal Revenue Service, to have exceeded
          the limitation of this Section, the excess will be treated as a loan
          to Executive by Company and shall be repayable on the ninetieth (90th)
          day following demand by Company, together with interest at the lowest
          "applicable federal rate" provided in Section 1274(d) of the Code. If
          it is ultimately determined, pursuant to the opinion referred to above
          or by the Internal Revenue Service, that a greater payment should have
          been made to Executive, Company shall pay Executive the amount of the
          deficiency, together with interest thereon from the date such amount
          should have been paid to the date of such payment, at the rate set
          forth above, so that Executive will have received or be entitled to
          receive the maximum amount to which Executive is entitled under this
          Agreement.

     (d)  Effect of Repeal. In the event that the provisions of Sections 280G
          and 4999 of the Code are repealed without succession, this Section
          shall be of no further force or effect.

     (e)  Exception. The Consultant selected pursuant to Section 7(c) will
          calculate Executive's "Uncapped Benefit" and Executive's "Capped
          Benefit." The limitations of Section 7(a) will not apply to Executive
          if Executive's Uncapped Benefit is at least one hundred five percent
          (105%) of Executive's Capped Benefit. For this purpose, Executive's
          "Uncapped Benefit" is the amount to which Executive would be entitled
          pursuant to Section 6(d), without regard to the limitations of Section
          7(a). Executive's "Capped Benefit" is the amount to which Executive
          would be entitled pursuant to Section 6(d) after the application of
          the limitations of Section 7(a).

     SECTION 8 - TAX GROSS-UP.

     (a)  Gross-Up Payment. If the Cap imposed by Section 7(a) does not apply to
          Executive because of the exception provided by Section 7(e), Company
          will provide Executive with a "Gross-Up Payment" if an excise tax is
          imposed on Executive pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code. Except as
          otherwise noted below, this Gross-Up Payment will consist of a single
          lump sum payment in an amount such that after payment by Executive of
          the "total presumed federal and state taxes" and the excise taxes
          imposed by Section 4999 of the Code on the Gross-Up Payment (and any
          interest or penalties actually imposed), Executive would retain an
          amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the remaining excise taxes
          imposed by Section 4999 of the Code on Executive's Total Payments
          (calculated before the Gross-Up Payment). For purposes of calculating
          Executive's Gross-Up Payment, Executive's actual federal and state
          income taxes will


                                       12



          not be used. Instead, Company will use Executive's "total presumed
          federal and state taxes." For purposes of this Agreement, Executive's
          "total presumed federal and state taxes" shall be conclusively
          calculated using a combined tax rate equal to the sum of the maximum
          marginal federal and applicable state income tax rates. The state tax
          rate for Executive's principal place of residence will be used and no
          adjustments will be made for the deduction of state taxes on the
          federal return, any deduction of federal taxes on a state return, the
          loss of itemized deductions or exemptions, or for any other purpose.

     (b)  Calculations. All determinations concerning whether a Gross-Up Payment
          is required pursuant to Section 8(a) and the amount of any Gross-Up
          Payment (as well as any assumptions to be used in making such
          determinations) shall be made by the Consultant selected pursuant to
          Section 7(c). The Consultant shall provide Executive and Company with
          a written notice of the amount of the excise taxes that Executive is
          required to pay and the amount of the Gross-Up Payment. The notice
          from the Consultant shall include any necessary calculations in
          support of its conclusions. All fees and expenses of the Consultant
          shall be paid by Company. Any Gross-Up Payment shall be made by
          Company within fifteen (15) days after the mailing of such notice. As
          a general rule, the Consultant's determination shall be binding on
          Executive and Company. The application of the excise tax rules of
          Section 4999, however, is complex and uncertain and, as a result, the
          Internal Revenue Service may disagree with the Consultant concerning
          the amount, if any, of the excise taxes that are due. If the Internal
          Revenue Service determines that excise taxes are due, or that the
          amount of the excise taxes that are due is greater than the amount
          determined by the Consultant, the Gross-Up Payment will be
          recalculated by the Consultant to reflect the actual excise taxes that
          Executive is required to pay (and any related interest and penalties).
          Any deficiency will then be paid to Executive by Company within
          fifteen (15) days of the receipt of the revised calculations from the
          Consultant. If the Internal Revenue Service determines that the amount
          of excise taxes that Executive paid exceeds the amount due, Executive
          shall return the excess to Company (along with any interest paid to
          Executive on the overpayment) immediately upon receipt from the
          Internal Revenue Service or other taxing authority. Company has the
          right to challenge any excise tax determinations made by the Internal
          Revenue Service. If Company agrees to indemnify Executive from any
          taxes, interest and penalties that may be imposed upon Executive
          (including any taxes, interest and penalties on the amounts paid
          pursuant to Company's indemnification agreement), Executive must
          cooperate fully with Company in connection with any such challenge.
          Company shall bear all costs associated with the challenge of any
          determination made by the Internal Revenue Service and Company shall
          control all such challenges. The additional Gross-Up Payments called
          for by the preceding paragraph


                                       13



          shall not be made until Company has either exhausted its (or
          Executive's) rights to challenge the determination or indicated that
          it intends to concede or settle the excise tax determination.
          Executive must notify Company in writing of any claim or determination
          by the Internal Revenue Service that, if upheld, would result in the
          payment of excise taxes in amounts different from the amount initially
          specified by the Consultant. Such notice shall be given as soon as
          possible but in no event later than fifteen (15) days following
          Executive's receipt of notice of the Internal Revenue Service's
          position.

     SECTION 9 - NOTICES. All notices or communications hereunder shall be in
writing, addressed as follows:

          To Company:       Metaldyne Corporation
                            47603 Halyard Drive
                            Plymouth, MI 48170
                            ATTN: Chairman of the Board

          with a copy to:   R. Jeffrey Pollock, Esq.
                            McDonald, Hopkins, Burke &
                               Haber Co., L.P.A.
                            600 Superior Avenue, Suite 2100
                            Cleveland, OH 44114

          To Executive:     George Thanopoulos
                            -------------------------------
                            1868 Rollingwoods
                            -------------------------------
                            Troy, MI 48098
                            -------------------------------

          with a copy to:
                            -------------------------------

                            -------------------------------

                            -------------------------------

                            -------------------------------

Any such notice or communication shall be delivered by hand or by courier or
sent certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid,
addressed as above (or to such other address as such party may designate in a
notice duly delivered as described above), and the third (3rd) business day
after the actual date of mailing shall constitute the time at which notice was
given.

     SECTION 10 - SEPARABILITY; LEGAL FEES. If any provision of this Agreement
shall be declared to be invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, such
invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the remaining provisions hereof
which shall remain in full force and effect. In the event of a dispute by
Company, Executive or others as to the validity or enforceability of, or
liability under, any provision of this Agreement, Company shall reimburse
Executive for all reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred by him in
connection with such dispute if Executive substantially prevails in the dispute


                                       14



and if Executive has not substantially prevailed in such dispute one-half (1/2)
the amount of all reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred by him in
connection with such dispute except to the extent Executive's position is found
by a tribunal of competent jurisdiction to have been frivolous.

     SECTION 11 - ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION. This contract shall be binding upon
and inure to the benefit of the heirs and representatives of Executive and the
assigns and successors of Company, but neither this Agreement nor any rights or
obligations hereunder shall be assignable or otherwise subject to hypothecation
by Executive (except by will or by operation of the laws of intestate
succession) or by Company, except that Company may assign this Agreement to any
successor (whether by merger, purchase or otherwise) to all or substantially all
of the stock, assets or business of Company.

     SECTION 12 - AMENDMENT. This Agreement may only be amended by written
agreement of the parties hereto.

     SECTION 13 - NON-COMPETITION; NON-SOLICITATION; CONFIDENTIALITY.

     (a)  Executive represents that acceptance of employment under this
          Agreement and performance under this Agreement are not in violation of
          any restrictions or covenants under the terms of any other agreements
          to which Executive is a party.

     (b)  Executive acknowledges and recognizes the highly competitive nature of
          the business of Company and accordingly agrees that, in consideration
          of this Agreement, the rights conferred hereunder, and any payment
          hereunder, during the Term of Employment and for the two (2) year
          period following the termination of Executive's employment with
          Company, for any reason ("Non-Compete Term"), Executive shall not
          engage, either directly or indirectly, as a principal for Executive's
          own account or jointly with others, or as a stockholder in any
          corporation or joint stock association, or as a partner or member of a
          general or limited liability entity, or as an employee, officer,
          director, agent, consultant or in any other advisory capacity in any
          business other than Company or its subsidiaries which designs,
          develops, manufacturers, distributes, sells or markets the type of
          products or services sold, distributed or provided by Company or its
          subsidiaries during the two (2) year period prior to the date of
          termination (the "Business"); provided that nothing herein shall
          prevent Executive from owning, directly or indirectly, not more than
          five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of, or any other equity
          interest in, any entity engaged in the Business and listed or traded
          on a national securities exchanges or in an over-the-counter
          securities market.

     (c)  During the Non-Compete Term, Executive shall not (i) directly or
          indirectly employ or solicit, or receive or accept the performance of
          services by, any active employee of Company or any of its subsidiaries


                                       15



          who is employed primarily in connection with the Business, except in
          connection with general, non-targeted recruitment efforts such as
          advertisements and job listings, or directly or indirectly induce any
          employee of Company to leave Company, or assist in any of the
          foregoing, or (ii) solicit for business (relating to the Business) any
          person who is a customer or former customer of Company or any of its
          subsidiaries, unless such person shall have ceased to have been such a
          customer for a period of at least six (6) months.

     (d)  Executive shall not at any time (whether during or after his
          employment with Company) disclose or use for Executive's own benefit
          or purposes or the benefit or purposes of any other person, firm,
          partnership, joint venture, association, corporation or other business
          organization, entity or enterprise other than Company and any of its
          subsidiaries, any trade secrets, information, data, or other
          confidential information of the Company, including but not limited to,
          information relating to customers, development programs, costs,
          marketing, trading, investment, sales activities, promotion, credit
          and financial data, financing methods, plans or the business and
          affairs of Company generally, or of any subsidiary of Company, unless
          required to do so by applicable law or court order, subpoena or decree
          or otherwise required by law, with reasonable evidence of such
          determination promptly provided to Company. The preceding sentence of
          this paragraph (d) shall not apply to information which is not unique
          to Company or which is generally known to the industry or the public
          other than as a result of Executive's breach of this covenant.
          Executive agrees that upon termination of employment with Company for
          any reason, Executive will return to Company immediately all
          memoranda, books, papers, plans, information, letters and other data,
          and all copies thereof or therefrom, in any way relating to the
          business of Company and its subsidiaries, except that Executive may
          retain personal notes, notebooks and diaries. Executive further agrees
          that Executive will not retain or use for Executive's account at any
          time any trade names, trademark or other proprietary business
          designation used or owned in connection with the business of Company
          or its subsidiaries.

     (e)  It is expressly understood and agreed that although Executive and
          Company consider the restrictions contained in this Section 13 to be
          reasonable, if a final judicial determination is made by a court of
          competent jurisdiction that the time or territory or any other
          restriction contained in this Agreement is an unenforceable
          restriction against Executive, the provisions of this Agreement shall
          not be rendered void but shall be deemed amended to apply as to such
          maximum time and territory and to such maximum extent as such court
          may judicially determine or indicate to be enforceable. Alternatively,
          if any tribunal of competent jurisdiction finds that any restriction
          contained in this Agreement is unenforceable, and such restriction
          cannot be amended so as to make it


                                       16



          enforceable, such finding shall not affect the enforceability of any
          of the other restrictions contained herein.

     (f)  As a condition to the receipt of any benefits described in this
          Agreement, Executive shall be required to execute an agreement
          pursuant to which Executive releases any claims he may have against
          Company and agrees to the continuing enforceability of the restrictive
          covenants of this Agreement.

     (g)  This Section 13 will survive the termination of this Agreement.

     SECTION 14 - REMEDIES. Executive acknowledges and agrees that Company's
remedies at law for a breach or threatened breach of any of the provisions of
Section 13 would be inadequate and, in recognition of this fact, Executive
agrees that, in the event of such a breach or threatened breach, in addition to
any remedies at law, Executive shall forfeit all payments otherwise due under
this Agreement and shall return any Severance Package payment made. Moreover,
Company, without posting any bond, shall be entitled to seek equitable relief in
the form of specific performance, temporary restraining order, temporary or
permanent injunction or any other equitable remedy which may then be available.

     SECTION 15- SURVIVORSHIP. The respective rights and obligations of the
parties hereunder shall survive any termination of this Agreement to the extent
necessary to the intended preservation of such rights and obligations. The
provisions of this Section 15 are in addition to the survivorship provisions of
any other section of this Agreement.

     SECTION 16 - GOVERNING LAW; REVENUE AND JURISDICTION. If any judicial or
administrative proceeding or claim relating to or pertaining to this Agreement
is initiated by either party hereto, such proceeding or claim shall and must be
filed in a state or federal court located in Wayne County, Michigan and such
proceeding or claim shall be governed by and construed under Michigan law,
without regard to conflict of law and principals.

     SECTION 17 - DISPUTE RESOLUTION. Any dispute related to or arising under
this Agreement shall be resolved in accordance with the Metaldyne Dispute
Resolution Policy in effect at the time such dispute arises. The Metaldyne
Dispute Resolution Policy in effect at the time of this Agreement is attached to
this Agreement.

     SECTION 18 - EFFECT ON PRIOR AGREEMENTS. This Agreement contains the entire
understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes in all respects any
prior or other agreement or understanding, both written and oral, between
Company, any affiliate of Company or any predecessor of Company or affiliate of
any predecessor of Company and Executive; provided, however, that this Agreement
does not supercede the MascoTech, Inc. Retention Plan or any change in control
agreements between Executive and Simpson Industries, Inc., Global Metal
Technologies, Inc. ("GMTI"), or MascoTech, Inc. that predates the Heartland
Industrial Partners' acquisition of Simpson Industries, Inc., GMTI,


                                       17



or MascoTech, Inc. in the year 2000 or 2001 and which agreements by their terms
survive such acquisition for a specified period.

     SECTION 19 - WITHHOLDING. Company shall be entitled to withhold from
payment any amount of withholding required by law.

     SECTION 20 - SECTION HEADINGS AND CONSTRUCTION. The headings of sections in
this Agreement are provided for convenience only and will not effect its
construction or interpretation. All references to "Section" or "Sections" refer
to the corresponding section or sections of this Agreement unless otherwise
specified. All words used in this Agreement will be construed to be of such
gender or number as circumstances require.

     SECTION 21 - COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one (1) or
more counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original copy of this
Agreement and all of which, when taken together, will be deemed to constitute
one and the same Agreement.


                                       18



     Intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties have executed this
Agreement on the dates set forth next to their names below.

                                                       COMPANY

                                               METALDYNE CORPORATION


December 12, 2001                   By: /s/ Timothy D. Leuliette
-------------------------               ----------------------------------
          Date

                                    Its: Chief Executive Officer
                                         ---------------------------------

                                                      EXECUTIVE
January 7, 2002                         /s/ George Thanopoulos
-------------------------               ----------------------------------
          Date
                                               ----------------------


                                       19