AmeriSource Appoints Bruce Kneeland Vice President, Family Pharamcy; Former Vice President of NWDA.

MALVERN, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 16, 1999--

AmeriSource Health Corporation (NYSE: AAS), one of the nation's leading wholesale pharmaceutical distributors, has named Bruce Kneeland as Vice President of the Company's Family Pharmacy(R) network of independent pharmacists.

Mr. Kneeland was most recently Vice President of Member Relations at the National Wholesale Druggists' Association (NWDA), a trade group that addresses broad-scale industry issues.

During his six years at the NWDA, Mr. Kneeland held a variety of prominent roles, including that of Vice President, Marketing and Communications, as well as directorships in both pharmaceutical and retail marketing. His experience at the NWDA provided for significant interface between the pharmaceutical manufacturers and the wholesale distributors in developing their respective marketing programs.

Prior to joining the NWDA, Mr. Kneeland was the Director of OTC Merchandising at True Quality Pharmacies, an 80-store regional pharmacy chain that operated leased space pharmacies in grocery and mass market retail locations. He also spent nine years prior to True Quality Pharmacies as Vice President, Franchise Sales with Healthmart Inc.

Tom Connolly, AmeriSource Corporate Vice President Sales and Marketing said, "Bruce has the credentials and the extensive knowledge to develop this important sector of our business. We believe the independent sector has significant growth potential and our investment in developing this market will yield long lasting relationships."

He also said, "Pharmacists today are evolving into the role of a healthcare consultant who monitors and improves on the effectiveness of the therapeutic regimen. With brand marketing support from Family Pharmacy(R), the independent pharmacist is positioned as a high quality, customer-focused retailer. The evolution of the independent is inevitable as more and more customers demand quality service and quality care."

The Family Pharmacy(R) network builds on the strengths of the independent pharmacists with increased buying power contributing to improved bottom-line profitability achieved through increased store traffic and reduced operating and inventory expenses.

Bruce Kneeland, age 51, earned a B. A. in Communications from Brigham Young University in 1973.

AmeriSource Health Corporation is a Fortune 200 company with revenue of $8.7 billion for fiscal year end 1998. The Company is one of the nation's leading pharmaceutical distributors and serves the healthcare industry from a nationwide network of 22 strategically located distribution centers. News and additional information about AmeriSource are available at www.amerisource.com.