Re Directorate

RNS Number:7913P
Colgate-Palmolive Co
10 January 2002


           COLGATE ELECTS CARLOS M. GUTIERREZ TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS
                  AND DECLARES REGULAR QUARTERLY DIVIDENDS

NEW YORK, NEW YORK, January 10,2002... Colgate-Palmolive Company today announced
that Carlos M. Gutierrez, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Kellogg 
Company, has been elected to its Board of Directors.

Mr. Gutierrez brings extensive international consumer products experience from 
his 27-year career at Kellogg. There, he has gained operating experience in 
almost all of the geographic regions representing Colgate's business strength 
around the world, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Latin America and
Asia. He has also led Kellogg's product development, sales and marketing, and 
business development functions. He was named Chief Executive Officer of Kellogg 
in 1999 and became Chairman in 2000.

Mr, Gutierrez was born in Cuba and educated in the United States and Mexico. He 
is a co-trustee of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Trust, a member of the Board of 
Directors of the Grocery Manufacturers of America and of the Visiting Committee 
Advisory Board of the University of Michigan Business School.

Separately, the Board of Directors of Colgate-Palmolive Company declared 
quarterly cash dividends on the Company's common stock and $4.25 preferred 
stock. The Company has paid uninterrupted dividends on its common stock since 
1895.
                                                  Payment      To Shareholders
                                    Rate          Date         of Record as of

Common Stock                      $ .1800         02/15/02     01/25/02
$4.25 Preferred Stock             $1.0625         03/29/02     03/15/02

Colgate-Palmolive is a leading global consumer products company, tightly focused
on Oral Care, Personal Care, Household Surface Care, Fabric Care and Pet 
Nutrition.  Colgate sells its products in over 200 countries and territories 
around the world under such internationally recognized brand names as Colgate, 
Palmolive, Mennen Speed Stick, Irish Spring, Kolynos, Ajax, Soupline, Suavitel 
and Fab, as well as Hill's Science Diet and Hill's Prescription Diet pet foods.

The full text of Colgate releases is available:
Internet Address:   http://www.colgatepalmolive.com
Shareholder Direct: 1-800-850-2654
E-mail; [e-mail]