HOUSTON, Dec. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lyondell Chemical Company (NYSE: LYO) today announced Douglas J. Pike has been promoted to the position of Vice President, Investor Relations. Pike has served as director of investor relations for Lyondell since 2002, and has held numerous positions of increasing responsibility in the areas of business management, business analysis, planning and manufacturing since joining the company in 1977. Prior to his current position, Pike was director of portfolio planning.

His promotion reflects Lyondell's increased presence in the industry and expanding shareholder base. With the completion of its acquisition of Millennium Chemicals, Lyondell is now North America's third-largest independent, publicly traded chemical company behind Dow and DuPont.

Pike holds a BS in Chemical and Petroleum Refining from the Colorado School of Mines.

Lyondell Chemical Company, headquartered in Houston, Texas, is North America's third-largest independent, publicly traded chemical company. Lyondell is a major global manufacturer of basic chemicals and derivatives including ethylene, propylene, titanium dioxide, styrene, polyethylene, propylene oxide and acetyls. It also is a significant producer of gasoline blending components. The company has a 58.75 percent interest in LYONDELL- CITGO Refining LP, a refiner of heavy, high-sulfur crude oil. Lyondell is a global company operating on five continents and employs approximately 10,000 people worldwide.

SOURCE: Lyondell Chemical Company

CONTACT: investors, Doug Pike, +1-713-309-4590, or media, Susan Moore, +1-713-652-4645, both of Lyondell Chemical Company

Web site: http://www.lyondell.com