Alcoa Announces New Appointments.

Business Editors

PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 20, 2001

Alcoa (NYSE:AA) announced that its Board of Directors elected several new officers to the company which was motivated by a series of key corporate issues including the creation of two new Group Presidents, as well as several other changes to the responsibilities of existing officers.

"We are pleased to have drawn on a range of global backgrounds and skill sets in further strengthening our senior management team with these new appointments," said Alcoa Chairman Alain Belda in making the announcement.

The two new group presidents are:

-- Robert S. Hughes II, 56, is executive vice president, Alcoa and Group
President, Alcoa Allied Products. He will also continue with his present
accountability for Alcoa Fujikura Ltd. and assumes responsibility for the North
American extrusions business. Mr. Hughes has held a variety of sales,
marketing, manufacturing and business unit management positions with Alcoa
during his extensive career.

-- Joseph C. Muscari, 54, is vice president, Alcoa and Group President Asia,
Latin America and Environment, Health and Safety. His new responsibilities for
Asia and Brazil have been created in recognition of the importance of
developing these regions to add to Alcoa's profitable growth plans. During his
Alcoa career, Mr. Muscari has held a series of manufacturing, financial,
business unit and corporate management positions, including President of Alcoa
Asia, where he was responsible for Alcoa's business development, sales and
marketing management in the Asian region.

In addition, G. John Pizzey, 56, is executive vice president, Alcoa and Group President, Primary Products. He had been vice president, Alcoa and Group President, Primary Products. This change represents an expansion of Mr. Pizzey's role with his current responsibilities for Alcoa's global refining, chemicals and smelting operations. Mr. Pizzey has served in senior management positions in the alumina, chemicals and primary aluminum areas in both Australia and the U.S.

The board elected several new vice presidents:

-- Franklin L. Feder, 50, is elected vice president, Analysis

and Planning. His most recent position was assistant

controller, Financial Analysis and Planning. Mr. Feder had

been chief financial officer for Alcoa Aluminio, Alcoa's

Brazilian affiliate, before becoming director of strategic

analysis in the Corporate Development group.

-- Mario Longhi Filho, 47, was elected vice president, Alcoa

and president, Alcoa Wheel and Forged Products. His most

recent assignment was vice president and general manager

of Alcoa Wheels International, based in Cleveland, Ohio.

Mr. Longhi has held several operations, commercial and

senior management positions in Alcoa's Brazilian

operations before moving to Cleveland, Ohio.

-- Veronica M. (Ronee) Hagen, 55, was elected vice president,

Alcoa and president, North American Extrusions. She had

been president, Alcoa Engineered Products, which is part

of the North American Extrusions business. Before joining

Alcoa in 1998 as executive vice president for the

Engineered Products business, Ms. Hagen was executive vice

president, Distribution and Industrial Products for

Alumax.

-- A. Hamish Petrie, 53, is elected vice president and global

director, Human Resources. Mr. Petrie's most recent

position was global director, Human Resources. Mr. Petrie

has served in a variety of production, human resources,

marketing and sales, and other senior management positions

at several of Alcoa's Australian operations before moving

to the U.S. as president of Alcoa World Alumina's

chemicals business.

-- Bernt Reitan, 53, was elected vice president, Alcoa and

president, Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals. Mr. Reitan's

most recent position was president, Alcoa World Chemicals.

Before joining Alcoa in 2000, Mr. Reitan, a native of

Norway, held senior management positions with Elkem ASA in

Norway over a 20-year period.

Other executive changes:

-- William F. Christopher, 47, is appointed to the new

position of executive vice president for Alcoa Business

System, Customer and Quality. Mr. Christopher's role has

added responsibilities for the leadership of Alcoa's

customer focused initiatives as well as Alcoa's quality

processes. Mr. Christopher has held a series of financial,

marketing and business unit management positions,

including his most recent assignment as President of Alcoa

Forged Products.

-- John W. Collins III, 56, becomes executive vice president,

Science and Technology. In this new position, he will lead

the corporate technology programs and strategic process

and product development programs. During his 32-year Alcoa

career, Mr. Collins has been the president of several

Alcoa businesses, including specialty metals, wire, rod

and bar, extrusion and tube, and most recently sheet,

plate and foil.

-- Richard B. Kelson, 54, executive vice president and chief

financial officer, takes on the additional responsibility

for corporate Audit and Compliance functions including the

role as chief compliance officer. Mr. Kelson has served in

several corporate management positions in the legal, and

environment, health and safety organizations. As CFO, he

has accountability for the major financial areas of the

company. In addition, information technology and

e-business are also under his leadership.

-- Paul D. Thomas, 45, is named vice president, Alcoa and

president, Alcoa Mill Products. His most recent position

was vice president, Alcoa and president, North American

Extrusions. Mr. Thomas has held several manufacturing

management and business unit president assignments with

Alcoa, including managing director of Alcoa Manufacturing

(GB) Ltd. located in Swansea, Wales.