Treon Named Ashland Inc. Communications Director

DUBLIN, Ohio, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Julie C. Treon has been promoted to director, communications, for Ashland Inc (NYSE: ASH), a new role that will principally focus on overseeing communications for the three divisions that comprise Ashland's Chemical Sector: Ashland Distribution, Ashland Specialty Chemical (Thermoset Resins and Water Technologies) and Valvoline. The announcement was made by Martha C. Johnson, vice president, Communications and Corporate Affairs, Ashland Inc. Treon will have a dual report relationship with Johnson and Gary A. Cappeline, president and chief operating officer, Chemical Sector, Ashland Inc.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040113/ASHLANDLOGO )

She will serve on Cappeline's Chemical Sector Leadership Team and will direct the communications teams for each of the Chemical Sector divisions, continuing to strengthen communication strategies, common processes and efficiencies across Ashland's businesses.

"In a short period of time, Julie has demonstrated dynamic leadership in our communications group and I'm excited to see her step into this expanded role for us and Ashland," said Johnson.

Cappeline added, "I know I can count on Martha and Julie and all their team to provide outstanding internal and external communications support to our businesses in their strides to meet Ashland's top-quartile performance goals."

Before joining Ashland, Treon served as director of marketing and customer service at Arc Abrasives (Troy, Ohio), where she created and managed a brand identity for the company. She also has held positions of marketing manager with LexisNexis (Dayton, Ohio), and marketing communications manager at NCR (Dayton, Ohio). A 1990 graduate of the University of Dayton, Treon has earned IABC/International Gold Quill and other marketing and communications awards.

Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) is a Fortune 500 transportation construction, chemicals and petroleum company providing products, services and customer solutions throughout the world. To learn more about Ashland, visit www.ashland.com .

SOURCE  Ashland Inc.
    -0-                             09/13/2004
    /CONTACT:  Jim Vitak of Ashland Inc., +1-614-790-3715, or
jevitak@ashland.com /
    /Photo:  NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040113/ASHLANDLOGO
             AP Archive:  http://photoarchive.ap.org
             PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com /
    /Web site:  http://www.ashland.com /
    (ASH)

CO:  Ashland Inc.; Ashland Distribution; Ashland Specialty Chemical; Valvoline
ST:  Ohio, Kentucky, Georgia
IN:  OIL
SU:  PER

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6585 09/13/2004 09:14 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com

"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.