Ashland Names Jones Director of Bioproducts

Ashland Names Jones Director of BioproductsDUBLIN, Ohio, May 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- David K. Jones has been named to a newly created position as director of bioproducts for Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH). The announcement was made by Walter H. Solomon, chief growth officer, to whom Jones will report.

"We believe we've seen a tipping point in the global market for bio-based alternatives to petrochemicals," said Solomon, "as a function of escalating hydrocarbon costs, improvements in bio-conversion technologies and end-user demand for renewable products. We are already seeing, and expect to continue to see, extraordinary growth in this market segment, and as such, Ashland has been developing a strategy to shape the emerging landscape of bio-based specialty chemicals. Bio's time has come."

Jones joined Ashland in 1984 as a product development chemist in Specialty Polymers & Adhesives. He then progressed through roles in technical service, sales, marketing and global business management. His last role in Specialty Polymers & Adhesives was global director of sales. In August 2005, he was appointed to the initial growth office team and he has served as a director in Ashland's growth office since then.

"Dave Jones has already played a very strong role in shaping Ashland's bio strategy and is a natural fit to lead Ashland's bio-growth platform for the future," commented Solomon.

Recently Jones received an appointment to the board of the Ohio BioProducts Innovation Center (OPIC), a new research initiative that integrates academia and industry toward the development of renewable specialty chemicals, polymers/plastics and advanced materials.

Jones holds bachelor's degrees in chemistry and chemical engineering from Purdue University and also has completed the executive development program at Indiana University's Kelly School of Business.

Ashland Inc., a diversified, global chemical company, provides quality products, services and solutions to customers in more than 100 countries. A FORTUNE 500 company, it operates through four divisions: Ashland Performance Materials, Ashland Distribution, Valvoline and Ashland Water Technologies. To learn more about Ashland, visit www.ashland.com.

FORTUNE 500 is a registered trademark of Time Inc.

SOURCE Ashland Inc.
CONTACT: Jim Vitak of Ashland Inc., +1-614-790-3715, or
jevitak@ashland.com/
Web site: http://www.ashland.com/
(ASH)

"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.