Walter H. Solomon
Vice President and Chief Growth Officer
Ashland Inc.
Mr. Solomon is vice president and chief growth officer for Ashland, positions he has held since August 2005. He serves on the company’s 12-person Operating Committee and manages Ashland’s Growth Office – which integrates the functional areas of enterprise strategy, enterprise marketing, global technology (research & development), innovation and mergers & acquisitions -- unified to drive organic and acquisitive growth. The Growth Office mapped Ashland’s strategic transformation from a regional US oil refiner into a $10 billion global specialty chemicals company, beginning with the 2005 divestiture of Ashland’s interest in Marathon Ashland Petroleum and culminating with the recent announcement of Ashland’s pending acquisition of Hercules. Post-closing, Ashland will derive 75% of its profit from specialty chemicals and generate one-third of its profit from sustainable chemistry.
Mr. Solomon joined Ashland in 2002 as senior vice president and general manager of the Valvoline division’s do-it-yourself business unit. He also had responsibility for brand management for Valvoline, increasing the premium motor oil business by 27 percent through creative marketing programs to drive growth and increase brand awareness.
Prior to joining Ashland, Solomon served 10 years in brand management with Procter & Gamble’s hair care and juice drink businesses. He also spent 10 years leading multiple privately-funded start-up companies in the healthcare and software industries, including an Inc. 500 company. Solomon has served as President of the Board of Trustees of three not-for-profit organizations and as a trustee for five others. He received his bachelor’s degree in commerce from the University of Virginia in 1982 and resides in Lexington, KY, with his wife of 22 years and 3 teenaged sons.