Exhibit 99.1.
SURMA NAMED PRESIDENT OF MARATHON ASHLAND PETROLEUM LLC
Findlay, Ohio, November 28, 2000 -- Thomas J. Usher, chairman of the board of
managers of Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC (MAP) and chairman and CEO of USX
announced today that John P. Surma has been appointed president of MAP,
effective January 1, 2001.
He succeeds J. L. "Corky" Frank who will be returning to Marathon Oil
Company as Executive Vice President.
In making the announcement, Usher credited Frank with making MAP one of the
industry's premier downstream companies. "In John Surma," Usher said, "we have
an executive whose breadth of experience and considerable leadership ability
will support MAP's success in the years ahead." He noted that Surma's
background combines experience in several key positions with Marathon and MAP
with consulting service to a number of major companies in the oil, chemical,
energy and steel industries.
Surma was born in Pittsburgh in 1954. He graduated from Pennsylvania State
University in 1976 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and is a
Certified Public Accountant.
Surma joined Marathon Oil Company as Senior Vice President, Finance &
Accounting, in 1997 and was appointed Senior Vice President, Finance &
Administration in early 1998. Later that year, he was appointed President,
Speedway SuperAmerica LLC. In January 2000, he was appointed Senior Vice
President, Supply & Transportation for MAP.
Prior to joining Marathon, Surma served as a partner,
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Pittsburgh office leader for Audit and Business
Advisory Services, and national co-leader of the firm's Products Advisory Group.
His responsibilities there included providing consulting services to major
manufacturing and process companies, and technical leadership in areas such as
inventory and environmental accounting and auditing.
Surma is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants, and the boards of Explorer Pipe Line, the National Association of
Convenience Stores, Calgon Carbon Corporation and the American Petroleum
Institute.
Based in Findlay, Ohio, Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC (MAP) is the
nation's fifth largest refiner with 935,000 barrels-per-day capacity in its
seven-refinery system. MAP's retail marketing system comprises approximately
5,400 locations in 21 states, more than half of which are brand locations. MAP
serves the Midwest and Southeast as a wholesale marketer with 93 light product
and asphalt terminals and access, through lease or ownership interest, to more
than 7,500 miles of pipeline. MAP is a limited liability company owned 62
percent by Marathon Oil Company and 38 percent by Ashland Inc.
