Ashland Inc. Names Esler Vice President, Human Resources

Ashland Inc. Names Esler Vice President, Human ResourcesCOVINGTON, Ky., Feb. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Susan B. Esler has been promoted to vice president, human resources, according to James J. O'Brien, Ashland Inc. chairman and chief executive officer, to whom she will report. The promotion is effective immediately.

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In her new position, Esler holds responsibility for all human resource functions across Ashland, including human resources policy and governance, business operations support, human resources shared services, and compensation and benefit programs as well as additional administrative responsibilities.

"I know that Susan and her team will provide the strategic direction and support to drive Ashland's high-performance culture toward producing outstanding results that will delight our customers, employees and shareholders," said O'Brien.

Esler joined Ashland in 1999 as manager, executive compensation. In 2001 she was promoted to director, corporate human resources, and in 2002 was promoted to her most recent position as vice president, human resources programs and services. Prior to joining Ashland, she was the senior director of compensation, benefits and human resource information systems at AmeriServe Food Distribution in Dallas, Texas. She also held the position of division director of human resources with PepsiCo, Inc., in Kan., Ill., Ohio and Texas. Esler began her career as human resource specialist with Dow Chemical in Cleveland, Ohio.

A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., Esler is a 1983 graduate of Miami University, with a bachelor of science degree in economics, and a master's degree in business administration from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University.

Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) is a Fortune 500 transportation construction, chemicals and petroleum company providing products, services and customer solutions throughout the world. Through the dedication of our employees, we are "The Who In How Things Work^™." Find us at www.ashland.com .

^™ Trademark, Ashland Inc.

SOURCE Ashland Inc.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding Ashland's business which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report or Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year.