CIO Magazine Recognizes Kepler for Visionary IT Leadership.

Business/Technology Editors

MIDLAND, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 1, 2002

David Kepler, corporate vice president and CIO of The Dow Chemical Company, today received the 2002 CIO 20/20 Vision Award presented by IDG's CIO magazine. The 20/20 Vision Award recognizes 40 individuals who epitomize the power of IT to transform businesses through the masterful application of 20/20 vision.

"Dow is committed to applying technology to enrich our customer interactions and improve internal efficiencies," said Kepler. "Our success is driven by the collaboration between our business and Information Systems teams who have time and again developed innovative solutions, enabling the functional and business synergies that continue to enable Dow become a better and bigger company."

The 20/20 Vision Award maintains that technology's impact on the world stems from the work of two different sets of people. The first set comprises 20 inventors, scientists and vendors who develop technology; the second set includes 20 business people, primarily chief information officers (CIOs), chief technology officers (CTOs) and CEOs, who apply technology to a real business or organizational challenge.

"The CIO 20/20 Vision Awards mark the first award program we've done to honor individuals instead of organizations," says Abbie Lundberg, CIO magazine's editor-in-chief. "We want to recognize the executives responsible for major organization achievements. The honorees are leaders and pioneers who have the vision and drive to make a difference."

Selection of honorees for the CIO 20/20 Vision Awards was a multi-tiered process. First, two sets of applications--one for the creators and marketers of technology and one for users and practitioners of technology--were made available online to anyone who wanted to nominate. In tandem with this process, CIO magazine convened a panel of leading business and technology gurus, industry experts and academics to also nominate candidates. Finally, CIO editors examined the 300 nominees and after much debate and research, selected a list of 40 individuals whose vision and execution made important changes for business and society.

Dow is a leading science and technology company that provides innovative chemical, plastic and agricultural products and services to many essential consumer markets. With annual sales of $28 billion, Dow serves customers in more than 170 countries and a wide range of markets that are vital to human progress, including food, transportation, health and medicine, personal and home care, and building and construction, among others. Committed to the principles of Sustainable Development, Dow and its approximately 50,000 employees seek to balance economic, environmental and social responsibilities.

ABOUT CIO MAGAZINE

CIO magazine (launched in 1987) is published by CXO Media, Inc. In addition to CIO magazine, CXO Media publishes CSO magazine www.cio.com, The CIO Insider, CSOonline.com and darwinmag.com. CXO Media serves CIOs, CSOs, CEOs, CFOs, COOs and other corporate officers who use technology to thrive and prosper in this new era of business. The company strives to enhance partnerships among C-level executives, as well as create opportunities for information technology (IT) and consumer marketers to reach them. In addition to magazines and websites, CXO Media produces Executive Programs, a series of conferences that provide educational and networking opportunities for corporate and government leaders.

CXO Media Inc. is a subsidiary of IDG, the world's leading technology media, research and event company. IDG publishes more than 300 magazines and newspapers and offers online users the largest network of technology-specific sites around the world through IDG.net (www.idg.net), which comprises more than 330 targeted Web sites in 80 countries. IDG is also a leading producer of 168 computer-related events worldwide, and IDG's research company, IDC, provides global market intelligence and advice through 51 offices in 43 countries worldwide. Company information is available at www.idg.com.