RNS Number:1834T
Hercules Inc
11 December 2003

Release Immediately

03-28-S





               CRAIG ROGERSON NAMED PRESIDENT AND CEO OF HERCULES



WILMINGTON, DE, DECEMBER 11, 2003 . . . Hercules Incorporated (NYSE: HPC) today
announced that its Board of Directors has elected Craig A. Rogerson President
and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Rogerson, 47, who has been
acting President and Chief Operating Officer since October, was also elected to
the Company's Board of Directors.


John K. Wulff will continue as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board. Wulff said,
"After a thorough search, our Board has unanimously concluded that Craig is the
right person to lead Hercules. In addition to a strong operating background,
excellent leadership skills and a wide-ranging knowledge of our businesses, he
has played a key role in the company's successful turnaround and return to
financial and operational health. We look forward to working closely with Craig
as we continue to execute on our strategy."


Joe B. Wyatt, an outside Director and Chairman of the Corporate Governance,
Nominating and Ethics Committee, said Rogerson's selection followed a
three-month international search conducted by the Board with the assistance of
Spencer Stuart. "We interviewed a number of highly qualified internal and
external candidates. Based on this extensive process, it is clear to us that
Craig is the best person for the job."


Rogerson said, "I look forward to building on the solid foundation that the
people of Hercules have worked hard to establish. We are focused on driving
shareholder value through solid execution of our strategy to bring value to our
customers, increase competitive advantage, improve productivity and deliver
further financial improvement."


Since April 2002, Rogerson has served as President of Hercules' FiberVisions and
Pinova divisions and Corporate Vice President of Global Procurement. He was
previously Vice President and General Manager of BetzDearborn and earlier served
as President and CEO of Wacker Silicones Corporation.


                                     # # #


Hercules manufactures and markets chemical specialties globally for making a
variety of products for home, office and industrial markets. For more
information, visit the Hercules website at www.herc.com.


This news release includes forward-looking statements, as defined in the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, reflecting current analysis and
expectations, based on what are believed to be reasonable assumptions.
Forward-looking statements may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties
and other factors, which may cause the actual results to differ materially from
those projected, stated or implied, depending on such factors as: ability to
generate cash, ability to raise capital, ability to refinance, the result of the
pursuit of strategic alternatives, ability to execute work process redesign and
reduce costs, business climate, business performance, economic and competitive
uncertainties, higher manufacturing costs, reduced level of customer orders,
changes in strategies, risks in developing new products and technologies,
environmental and safety regulations and clean-up costs, foreign exchange rates,
the impact of changes in the value of pension fund assets and liabilities,
changes in generally accepted accounting principles, adverse legal and
regulatory developments, including increases in the number or financial
exposures of claims, lawsuits, settlements or judgments, or the inability to
eliminate or reduce such financial exposures by collecting indemnity payments
from insurers, the impact of increased accruals and reserves for such exposures,
and adverse changes in economic and political climates around the world,
including terrorist activities and international hostilities. Accordingly, there
can be no assurance that the Company will meet future results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. As
appropriate, additional factors are contained in reports filed by the Company
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This paragraph is included to
provide safe harbor for forward-looking statements, which are not generally
required to be publicly revised as circumstances change, and which the Company
does not intend to update.




Media Contact:     John S. Riley          (302) 594-6025

Investor Contact:     Allen A. Spizzo     (302) 594-6491





                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END

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