Airgas, Inc. Appoints Mike Rohde Senior Vice President - Distribution Operations.

RADNOR, Pa. -- Airgas, Inc. (NYSE:ARG) today named Michael Rohde, currently regional company president of Airgas South, to the new role of senior vice president - distribution operations, effectively immediately.

Rohde will report directly to Mike Molinini, executive vice president and chief operating officer, and head a new corporate department that will integrate several units providing operational support to the 13 regional companies within Airgas.

His responsibilities will include units that provide hardgoods purchasing and operations of the five national distribution centers, store operations support, and several teams that assist the regions in specialty gas production, quality and technical support, plant efficiency and transportation, and gas supply chain improvements.

"Throughout his career, Mike Rohde has demonstrated a deep knowledge of running a successful packaged gas business. His achievements in improving Airgas South's financial results and managing the region through several major acquisitions and infrastructure improvements gives me confidence that he will help deliver real, practical support to all our regional companies," said Molinini.

For the past five years, Rohde has served as president of Airgas South, which serves customers in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee. He joined Airgas in 1999 as president of Airgas Southwest, the regional company serving Texas and New Mexico. Rohde has been in the packaged gas industry since 1977. Prior to joining Airgas, he was senior vice president, packaged and specialty gases at Tri-Gas and, before that, senior vice president, packaged gases at MG Industries. He began his career with 12 years at Sunox, a large independent in the Carolinas and Virginia, where he was vice president - sales and marketing. Rohde received a bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland and an MBA from the Citadel.

Molinini announced that Jay Sullivan, who has been the chief financial officer for Airgas South for the past seven years, will serve as acting president of the region until Shaun Powers, division president - East, has named a permanent replacement.

Commenting on the corporate restructuring, Molinini added, "These changes move several support teams from our Gas Operations Division, which will now primarily focus on profitably running those business units that operate primarily outside our regional company structure. These include Airgas Carbonic and Airgas Dry Ice, which produce and distribute liquid carbon dioxide and dry ice; Airgas Nitrous Oxide, the production of atmospheric gases at two Air Separation Units, and the pending acquisition of LaRoche Industries' ammonia distribution business."

As part of the reorganization, Molinini also said that the SAFECOR department, which provides safety, compliance and regulatory support to all Airgas operations, will also move from Gas Operations to report directly to him. "Safety is a priority throughout all of our operations and therefore I want to work directly with Duane Young and his SAFECOR team to support all of our operating units."

About Airgas, Inc.

Airgas, Inc. (NYSE:ARG) is the largest U.S. distributor of industrial, medical and specialty gases, welding, safety and related products. Its integrated network of about 900 locations includes branches, retail stores, gas fill plants, specialty gas labs, production facilities and distribution centers. Airgas also distributes its products and services through eBusiness, catalog and telesales channels. Its national scale and strong local presence offer a competitive edge to its diversified customer base. For more information, please visit www.airgas.com.