Acuity Brands Lighting Appoints John T. Hartman Chief Commercial Officer

Management responsibilities now extend to all brands including Holophane

Conyers, GA. The Acuity Brands (NYSE:AYI) lighting business has appointed John T. Hartman Chief Commercial Officer- he will continue as an Executive Vice President of ABL as well. Prior to this announcement, Mr. Hartman had responsibility for the Lithonia, Gotham, Peerless, Hydrel and Mark Lighting brands which included sales, marketing, product development and other functions. The CCO position adds responsibility for the Holophane and American Electric Lighting brands based in Newark, Ohio.

The new position of ABL Chief Commercial Officer will carry responsibility for the strategic planning and direction for the company's entire portfolio of lighting brands. Since joining the company in 2002, Mr. Hartman has held a variety of senior management positions with responsibilities that included both national and international operations.

Prior to joining Acuity Brands Lighting, he held senior management positions with BellSouth, Cox Communications and in investment banking.

Acuity Brands, Inc. owns and operates Acuity Brands Lighting. With fiscal year 2007 net sales of approximately $2.0 billion, Acuity Brands Lighting is one of the world's leading providers of lighting fixtures and includes brands such as Lithonia Lighting(R), Holophane(R), Peerless(R), Mark Architectural Lighting(TM), Hydrel(R), American Electric Lighting(R), Gotham(R), Carandini(R), SpecLight(R), MetalOptics(R) and Antique Street Lamps(TM). Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Acuity Brands employs approximately 7,000 associates and has operations throughout North America and in Europe and Asia.