Changes to Board of Directors

RNS Number:4065T
Alcan Inc
21 March 2002

Press Release

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



                   ALCAN - CHANGES TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Montreal, Canada - March 21, 2002 - The Board of Directors of Alcan Inc. today
appointed Mr. L. Yves Fortier as a Director and Vice-Chairman of the Company.

Mr. Fortier, 66, is chairman and a senior partner of the law firm Ogilvy Renault
in Montreal. From 1988 to 1992, he was Ambassador and Permanent Representative
of Canada to the United Nations. He is also governor of the Hudson's Bay Company
and a director of DuPont Canada Inc., Groupe TVA inc., Nortel Networks
Corporation, NOVA Chemicals Corporation and Royal Bank of Canada.

It is the intention of the Alcan Board that Mr. Fortier becomes Chairman of the
Board, subject to his election as a Director at the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders on April 25, 2002.

Alcan has recently sent its Proxy Circular and related material to its
shareholders. Mr. Roland Berger, 64, is nominated as a candidate for election as
a Director at the Annual Meeting. Mr. Berger is chairman and global managing
partner of Munich-based Roland Berger Strategy Consultants, founded in 1967, a
leading global strategy consultancy operating in 22 countries world-wide. He is
a member of various supervisory boards and consultancy associations, pursues
extensive commitments in the public sector and is a well-known speaker on
corporate management, economic and social issues.

Other current Directors nominated for election to Alcan's Board at the Annual
Meeting are Messrs. Clarence J. Chandran, Travis Engen, Brian M. Levitt, Ted
Newall, Guy Saint-Pierre, Gerhard Schulmeyer and Paul M. Tellier. Four of
Alcan's current Directors will not be nominated for re-election. In accordance
with normal Company practices, Dr. John R. Evans and Mr. Bill Blundell are not
nominees, having reached retirement age. Messrs. Martin Ebner and Willi Kerth
have requested not to be nominated for re-election as Directors.

Alcan is a multinational, market-driven company and a global leader in aluminum
and specialty packaging with annual revenues of US$12.6 billion in 2001. With
world-class operations in primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum as well as
flexible and specialty packaging, Alcan is well positioned to meet and exceed
its customers' needs for innovative solutions and service. Alcan employs 48,000
people and has operating facilities in 38 countries.

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Media Contact:         Marc Osborne

                  [phone]

Investor Contact:     Serge Michaud

                  [phone]


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