Acuity Brands Announces Election of Karen Holcom as Vice President and Controller.

ATLANTA -- Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE: AYI) announced today the election of Karen J. Holcom as Vice President and Controller, to be effective July 12, 2004. Holcom will report to the Chief Financial Officer. In this role, Holcom will be responsible for internal and external financial reporting, planning and analysis, corporate accounting, and taxes. This position is currently held by S. Christopher (Chris) Tuttle, who will transfer to Acuity Brands Lighting as Vice President, Finance - Supply Chain in order to provide financial leadership to improve the capabilities of the supply chain.

Holcom has most recently served as Vice President, Financial Services of Acuity Brands, responsible for investor relations, internal audit, and other financial analysis. Prior to this role, Holcom served National Service Industries, Inc. in various financial accounting and reporting functions from 1998. Holcom is a Certified Public Accountant and a graduate of the Executive MBA program of Georgia State University and of Clemson University, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting.

With Holcom's change in roles, her investor relations responsibilities will be assumed by Dan Smith, Vice President and Treasurer, and her internal audit responsibilities will be assumed by Wesley E. (Wes) Wittich, Senior Vice President, Audit and Risk Management.

Vernon J. Nagel, Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer of Acuity Brands, said, "Karen Holcom will provide outstanding leadership in her new role as Vice President and Controller. Her financial expertise and proven experience will provide Karen the necessary skills to serve well in this role and to adapt to today's constantly changing business environment."

Acuity Brands, Inc., with fiscal year 2003 net sales of over $2.0 billion, is comprised of Acuity Brands Lighting and Acuity Specialty Products. Acuity Brands Lighting is a world leader in lighting fixtures and includes brands such as Lithonia Lighting(R), Holophane(R), Peerless(R), Hydrel(R), American Electric Lighting(R), and Gotham(R). Acuity Specialty Products is a leading provider of specialty chemicals and includes brands such as Zep(R), Enforcer(R), and Selig Industries(TM). Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Acuity Brands employs approximately 11,000 people and has operations throughout North America and in Europe and Asia.