Jim O’Brien, 51, Ashland’s Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, knows how Ashland works. He has been with the company for almost 30 years and has a wealth of experience in Ashland operations — from chemicals to petroleum to motor oil marketing and back.

Prior to being named to his previous position of President and Chief Operating Officer, O’Brien had served as senior vice president and group operating officer for Ashland Distribution and Ashland Specialty Chemical — the very place he started some 29+ years ago. He joined the former Ashland Chemical Company in 1976 where he succeeded in assignments of increasing responsibility in the Foundry, Specialty Polymers and General Polymers divisions.

Jim took a hiatus from operations in 1992 when he was selected as executive assistant to Ashland’s retired Chairman and CEO, John R. Hall. For two years, he assisted Hall as he deftly maneuvered Ashland through a volatile petroleum refining industry. Then, in 1994, he took on the challenging assignment of revitalizing Ashland’s branded gasoline marketing operations. Just one year later, O’Brien was chosen to lead Valvoline as its president, a post he held until November of 2001. While at Valvoline, he successfully redirected the motor oil marketing powerhouse and built a high-performance team that focused on, and successfully implemented, a dynamic master brand strategy while at the same time expanding the product line into new premium products.

As group operating officer responsible for Ashland Distribution and Ashland Specialty chemical, O’Brien quickly developed broad new initiatives to redefine the distribution business model with a goal of enhancing efficiency, increasing revenues and restoring returns. At the same time, Ashland Specialty Chemical began to sharpen its market focus and reap more growth from existing product lines.

A native of Circleville, Ohio, Jim is a graduate of Ohio State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance and a master’s degree in business administration. Today, he serves his alma mater as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council for the Fisher Graduate College of Business. A volunteer “big brother” with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Bluegrass, Jim also serves on the organization’s national board of directors. He is a member of the American Chemistry Council, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Midway College in Kentucky, and is a member of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges. O’Brien is a 1994 graduate of Leadership Kentucky.