Company: Alcan Inc., Montreal, Canada
Company Description: Alcan is a global leader in aluminum and packaging. Alcan has operations in primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum as well as packaging, aerospace applications, bauxite mining and alumina processing. With 2004 sales and operating revenues of US$24.8 billion, Alcan employs 73,000 people and has operating facilities in 56 countries and regions.
Nomination Category: Individual Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Best Communications Executive

Nomination Title: Elisabeth Vassallucci, VP Corporate Communications, Alcan Inc.

1. Tell the story about what this nominee achieved in the past year (up to 500 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:

In 2004, Alcan acquired French competitor Pechiney, increasing its workforce from 50,000 to 88,000 people, then spun off most of its rolled products businesses. In
this turbulent year, Elisabeth developed and implemented the communication
strategy for the integration of Pechiney, and the spin-off. She also started to
strategically reposition "the new Alcan" with all stakeholders, working closely
with the four business groups forming Alcan.

In addition to the management of numerous ongoing projects and the strenuous
lay-off 10 of 15 members of the ex-Pechiney communications team that she
accomplished in a very compassionate way, relocating most of them, she
spearheaded:
• the implementation of the 3rd Global Survey for 88,000 employees, in  
19 languages,
• the creation of the Alcan Sustainability Prize, a US$1 million award to
a not-for-profit organization,
• the production of two strategic position papers, the "Water Paper" and
the "China Paper",
• and the combination of communications best practices from both Alcan
and Pechiney.

She also led a synergy taskforce to bring US$2 million "to the table".

The following testimonials from her colleagues illustrate Elisabeth's
accomplishments:

"As an expert, Elisabeth has a clear vision of how communications can support
Alcan in achieving its governing objective to maximize value.  With her passion for
Alcan and communications and her high energy, she has very effectively led her
team to earn the highest respect from her colleagues."
Geoffery Merszei
Executive Vice President  & CFO
Alcan Inc.

"Elisabeth is unconditionally trustworthy and transparent, and she is a wonderful
team player. Her achievements during two “once in a lifetime” transactions over the
last 18 months (Pechiney and Novelis) speak for themselves."
Michael Hanley
Executive Vice President
Alcan Inc.

"Elisabeth played a key role in the Pechiney integration by helping building
ownership of Alcan values and management tools, making people feel part of a
new family. Very creative, adaptable, with a good knowledge of the businesses
and local requirements, she manages to find professional and pragmatic solutions
to the huge amount of communication challenges we face as a fast-growing and
constantly moving organization. Her expertise and strong personality have made
her a reference within Alcan."
Christel Bories
President and CEO
Alcan Packaging

"Elisabeth epitomizes the modern communication executive. Over the last 18
months, she has been instrumental to make Alcan's acquisition of Pechiney a
success. The communication campaign she led before the acquisition
strengthened Alcan's position. Her communication efforts during the integration,
bridging cultures and time zones, accelerated a common sense of belonging to
our company. Elisabeth definitively was in the 'eye of the storm' in the last year."
Jean-Christophe Deslarzes
VP Human Resources and EHS
Alcan Packaging

"Elisabeth knows how to tap into cultural and organisational differences to create
products that are greater than the sum of their parts."
Marcel Daniëls
VP Corporate Affairs
Alcan Europe

"Elisabeth succeeds in managing the rich diversity of Alcan, while at the same
time focusing on market and business-oriented solutions, 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week."
Albert Klinkhammer
VP Communications
Alcan Engineered Products

2. List hyperlinks to any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that support the claims made in the section above. IMPORTANT: Begin each link with http://, and enclose each link in square brackets; for example, [http://www.youraddress.com]:

Alcan’s website: www.alcan.com

Alcan’s Water Paper:
http://www.alcan.com/web/publishing.nsf/Content/Sustainability+Home

Alcan’s China Analysis Paper:
http://www.alcan.com/web/publishing.nsf/Content/Material+Requests

Alcan’s 2004 Sustainability Report:
http://www.publications.alcan.com/sustainability/2004/en/pages/index.html

Alcan’s Annual Report:
http://www.alcan.com/web/publishing.nsf/Content/Investors+-+2003+Annual+Report

Alcan Prize for Sustainability: www.alcanprizeforsustainability.com

Alcan Facts 2004:
http://www.alcan.com/web/publishing.nsf/Content/Alcan+Facts+2004

Examples of Alcan Press Releases:
http://www.alcan.com/web/publishing.nsf/Content/Alcan+Shareholders+Approve+No
velis+Spin-Off

http://www.alcan.com/web/publishing.nsf/Content/First+Alcan+Prize+for+Sustainab
ility+Awarded+to+the+Forest+Stewardship+Council

http://www.alcan.com/web/publishing.nsf/Content/Pechiney+Board+of+Directors+C
hanges+Following+Acquisition+by+Alcan

http://www.alcan.com/web/publishing.nsf/Content/Alcan+Champions+the+Need+to
+Protect+the+Planet%27s+Most+Precious+Liquid

3. Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography about this nominee:

During her 10 years with the GCI Group, Elisabeth  Vassallucci, as a seasoned
communications expert, developed and implemented global and local
communications and government relations strategies including crisis
management, business to business and consumer programs, in various sectors
from manufacturing to technology, pharmaceutical to packaging and retail.

In 1997, she became head of communications for Algroup Wheaton, the
Pharmaceutical and Cosmetics Division of Alusuisse Lonza (Algroup), a large
swiss aluminum and packaging company.

In January 2001, after the Alcan-Algroup merger, Elisabeth became Vice President
of Corporate Communications for Alcan, a global leader in aluminum and
packaging, operating in 56 countries.