Ashland Inc. Consolidates Planning Functions

COVINGTON, Ky., March 13 -- Ashland Inc. announced today that it is consolidating all its planning and analysis functions under Carl A. Pecko, vice president, planning. Previously, the planning functions were decentralized.

James J. O'Brien, Ashland Inc. chairman and chief executive officer, said that this announcement demonstrates our intention to move the company to a more uniform and process-centered organization.

Planning employees will continue to be based at their home campuses of Atlanta, Ga., Dublin, Ohio, Lexington, Ky., and Covington, Ky. The consolidation will be coordinated by Pecko, who will continue to be located in Covington, Ky.

Pecko is responsible for companywide strategy, planning, budgeting, and financial analysis. He joined Ashland in 1974 and has served as the vice president, planning since Feb. 1992. Pecko is a 1970 graduate of Ohio State University with a bachelor of science degree. He earned an M.B.A. from Xavier University, with a concentration in finance, in 1976.

Ashland Inc. is a Fortune 500 company providing products, services, and customer solutions throughout the world. Our businesses include road construction, specialty chemicals, lubricants, car-care products, chemical and plastics distribution and transportation fuels. Through the dedication of our employees, we are "The Who In How Things Work(TM)." Find us at www.ashland.com .

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