Alcon's CFO Named National Financial Executive of the Year.

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Alcon, Inc. (NYSE:ACL) announced today that Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer, Jacqualyn Fouse, has been named the 2005 recipient of the national Financial Executive of the Year Award, sponsored by Robert Half International (RHI) and the 70,000-member Institute of Management Accountants (IMA). The first winner from the state of Texas, Fouse is just the second woman to receive the prestigious award in its nine-year history and only the second recipient from the healthcare industry.

This national award was established to recognize the exceptional accomplishments of financial executives throughout the country and to honor those who bring leadership, pride and credibility to the accounting and finance professions. As such, it recognizes individuals for excellence in corporate financial management as well as a commitment to ethics. This year 202 nominees, many affiliated with Fortune 1000 companies, across a variety of industries, were considered for this honor. The award will be formally presented to Fouse at an awards dinner on December 12 at the Petroleum Club in Fort Worth, Texas.

On learning that she had received this coveted award, Fouse commented, "I am grateful for the recognition this honor brings to Alcon and to the talented people that work with me in the finance group, as well as my colleagues in our operating divisions. Our people are what make Alcon a great company and I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to be part of this highly capable team of executives that is making Alcon the first choice for eye care products throughout the world."

Fouse has served as Alcon's CFO since 2002 and has made many financial contributions including: financial optimization of licensing agreements, reductions in overhead costs and various changes to legal and tax structures of the organization. In addition to her financial achievements, direction of global information technology and leadership of corporate communications, she currently heads Alcon's humanitarian services efforts and the Alcon Foundation, which supports organizations focused on eye health care, leadership programs, research, education and community involvement.

"Jackie provides excellent leadership, direction and support to the finance, treasury, information technology and strategic business functions for Alcon world wide," said Cary Rayment, chairman, president and CEO, Alcon, Inc. "She has defined and implemented important financial and operational strategies and initiatives that have resulted in significant efficiency improvements for the company."

Fouse originally joined Alcon in 1986 and served in a variety of financial positions throughout the Company. In 1993 she moved to Switzerland to join Nestle as Assistant Controller for the Pharma-Cosmetics group, responsible for coordinating Alcon's relationships with Nestle. After spending three years in this function, Fouse was promoted to Deputy Treasurer and subsequently to Group Treasurer of Nestle. She left Nestle to become Chief Financial Officer of the Swissair Group in 2001, prior to returning to Alcon in 2002.

Fouse has received numerous awards and honors including the University of Texas at Arlington Distinguished Alumni Award, selection as a "Great Woman of Texas" by the Fort Worth Business Press and the Fort Worth YWCA Tribute to Women in Business Award. Fouse received bachelor's and master's degrees in Economics from the University of Texas at Arlington and has recently attained "all but dissertation" status for a doctorate in Finance.

Fouse is also actively involved in community, educational and philanthropic endeavors, both locally and around the world. She was selected as a World Economic Forum Global Leader for Tomorrow and serves on several boards and councils, including: the Board of Directors of ORBIS International, a non-profit organization dedicated to saving sight and eliminating avoidable blindness; the Board of Directors of Ophthalmic Women Leaders, an ophthalmic industry group whose mission is to increase the involvement of women in industry affairs; the Chancellor's Council of the University of Texas system; and other local non-profit boards and councils.

About the Financial Executive of the Year Award

The Institute of Management Accountants created the Financial Executive of the Year Award in 1995 to recognize the outstanding performance, accomplishments and contributions of financial executives. In an effort to expand on the commitment to the financial profession and the promotion of ethical conduct within the industry, IMA partnered with Robert Half International, the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm, in 2003 to help broaden the reach of this prestigious award. For more information on this award visit the Web site at http://feya.rhi.com.

About Alcon

Alcon, Inc. is the world's leading eye care company with sales exceeding $3.9 billion in 2004. Alcon, which has been dedicated to the ophthalmic industry for over 50 years, develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceuticals, surgical equipment and devices, contact lens solutions and other vision care products that treat diseases, disorders and other conditions of the eye. For more information on Alcon, Inc., visit the company's Web site at www.alconinc.com.